Jensen Huang Didn’t Name His Own Replacement as One of Tech’s Most Powerful Women

Colette Kress, Nvidia's new interim CEO, has emerged as the most powerful woman in tech at a pivotal moment for the artificial intelligence industry. Her promotion comes after her predecessor, Jensen Huang, failed to mention her when WIRED asked him to identify influential women in technology.

Overlooked Leadership

Earlier this fall, WIRED reached out to Huang for insights on powerful women in tech. He named Meta's Dina Powell and Google's Ruth Porat, and later acknowledged SpaceX's Gwynne Shotwell. Remarkably, he didn't mention Kress, who had served as Nvidia's CFO and joined him on quarterly earnings calls, possessing unparalleled knowledge of the company's finances.

Critical Role

As interim CEO, Kress now leads one of the world's most valuable companies during the AI industry's most precarious period. Her decisions will have far-reaching consequences across technology, geopolitics, and the broader economy. Whether her position becomes permanent or not, her influence in tech is undeniable.