Rene Haas has emerged as an outside candidate in Nvidia’s search for a permanent chief executive after Jensen Huang resigned from the company on November 11, 2026.
People familiar with the search said Nvidia’s board approached Haas about the role, although he has not been appointed and there is no indication that he has accepted an offer.
The approach places one of the semiconductor industry’s most experienced executives at the centre of Nvidia’s first CEO transition since the company was founded.
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Rene Haas is an external candidate for Nvidia
Haas has served as chief executive of Arm Holdings since February 2022 and is also a member of the British chip designer’s board.
Before joining Arm, Haas spent seven years at Nvidia as vice-president and general manager of the company’s computing products business, according to an Arm filing detailing his executive background.
That background gives Haas direct knowledge of Nvidia’s products, culture and leadership structure, while his time at Arm has placed him at the centre of the wider shift toward artificial-intelligence and data-centre computing.
Arm designs processor architectures and licenses them to chipmakers and technology companies, while Nvidia is best known for the accelerated-computing processors used to train and run large artificial-intelligence systems.
Haas would therefore bring experience from both sides of the semiconductor ecosystem if he were to become Nvidia’s permanent CEO.
Nvidia has appointed an interim CEO
Nvidia’s board announced on November 12 that Huang had resigned as president, CEO and a board member, effective immediately.
Colette Kress, Nvidia’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer, was appointed interim CEO and is continuing in her finance role.
The company said the board would consider both internal and external candidates while conducting the search for a permanent successor.
Harvey C.
Jones, a longtime Nvidia director, was appointed chair of the board as part of the leadership transition, as detailed in the company’s SEC filing.
The company has not publicly identified a permanent successor or said how long the search is expected to take.
Why the succession search matters
Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and led the company for more than three decades, making the transition unusually significant for investors, employees and customers.
Under Huang, Nvidia moved from its origins in graphics processors for personal computers and video games into a dominant position in AI computing.
The next CEO will have to manage several overlapping challenges, including demand for AI infrastructure, pressure from competing chip designers, export restrictions and Nvidia’s relationships with major cloud providers and technology companies.
The position also requires a leader who can maintain confidence in Nvidia’s long-term strategy while managing the company’s increasingly important role in the global technology and semiconductor industries.
Haas’s experience could make him attractive to directors seeking technical knowledge and an understanding of Nvidia’s internal operations, but his departure would also create a major leadership question at Arm.
What happens next at Nvidia
For now, Kress remains responsible for Nvidia’s day-to-day leadership while the board evaluates possible candidates.
The company is expected to face close scrutiny at its next financial update because investors will want more information about its leadership plans and business outlook.
A decision to appoint Haas would require him to leave Arm and would mark a return to Nvidia after his years leading one of the industry’s most influential intellectual-property companies.
Until an appointment is announced, Haas should be viewed as a reported candidate rather than Nvidia’s incoming CEO.
The board’s decision will determine whether Nvidia chooses an executive with long experience inside the company or turns to an external leader to guide it beyond the Huang era.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rene Haas?
Rene Haas is the CEO of Arm Holdings and a semiconductor executive who previously spent seven years at Nvidia leading its computing products business.
Has Rene Haas been named Nvidia’s next CEO?
No. Haas has reportedly been approached as a possible candidate, but Nvidia has not announced a permanent successor.
Who is Nvidia’s interim CEO?
Colette Kress, Nvidia’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer, is serving as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement.
When did Jensen Huang leave Nvidia?
Jensen Huang resigned as Nvidia’s president, CEO and board member on November 11, 2026, effective immediately. Nvidia publicly announced the transition on November 12, 2026.
Why is Nvidia searching for a new CEO?
The company began a permanent succession search after Huang’s resignation. Nvidia’s board said it would consider both internal and external candidates.
Fact-Checked: The resignation took effect on November 11, 2026, while NVIDIA publicly announced the CEO transition on November 12, 2026. The dates were checked against NVIDIA’s official announcement and SEC filing. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045810/000104581026000082/nvda-20261111.htm?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: The reported approach does not mean Rene Haas has accepted the role or that Nvidia has selected a permanent successor.