NVIDIA independent directors hire former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim to lead an independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang
According to a November 10, 2026 statement on NVIDIA’s official newsroom, the company’s independent directors have hired former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim and his law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct a comprehensive, independent investigation into events related to CEO Jensen Huang. The investigation was announced by the board on Sunday, November 8.
The statement said the board currently has no reason to believe U.S. national security or company secrets have been affected, and that the investigation will review all available information. Huang himself has said that he supports the investigation and pledged to cooperate.
Public information shows that Joon H. Kim served as Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2017 to early 2018. He also took part in an independent investigation in 2021, assigned by the New York attorney general, together with Anne Clark, into sexual harassment allegations against then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, as well as subsequent related commissioned investigations.
Original sources:
Title: Statement From the Independent Members of the NVIDIA Board Publisher: NVIDIA Publication date: 2026-11-10 URL: https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/statement-from-the-independent-members-of-the-nvidia-board Source type: official company statement Verification status: page content actually read in this case, verification date 2026-11-11; no access restrictions Supporting content: supports the hiring of Joon H. Kim and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to carry out a thorough and independent investigation, the linkage to the investigation announced on Sunday, the board’s prior statements about national security and company secrets, and Huang’s support for and cooperation with the investigation
ABAB AI Insight
The hiring of an external former prosecutor and a top-tier law firm is a concrete implementation step after the board announced the independent investigation on Sunday. The investigation background involves media reports that Huang had a relationship with a businessman whom U.S. intelligence agencies identified as a Chinese intelligence asset, and Huang has publicly admitted to being unfaithful to his wife.
When announcing the investigation, the board already said that it had no reason to believe national security or company secrets had been compromised, while emphasizing that it would conduct a full review. This wording indicates an initial assessment while preserving room for the investigation. Kim’s background includes cases involving economic espionage, trade secrets, and sanctions-related matters, which are relevant to the subject of this investigation, but his past experience does not amount to a predetermined conclusion in this case.
Corporate governance observers are paying attention to board independence issues, including long director tenures and the absence of a formal chairman. The final conclusion will depend on the investigative report and subsequent company disclosures; at present, there is no confirmed fact of a secrets leak or security impact.
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The investigation is led by independent directors and they have hired outside counsel; it is not being conducted by company management itself.
The board’s statement that it had no reason to believe secrets were affected is its current wording and is an initial assessment, not the final conclusion of the investigation.
Joon H. Kim’s prosecutorial and investigative experience is part of his public resume and does not mean he has already made specific findings regarding the Huang case.