NVIDIA's Interim CEO, Colette Kress, Has a 13-Year Microsoft History You Probably Didn't Know

Following the admission and apology to family for having extramarital affair with an alleged Chinese spy, Jensen Huang has resigned as the Chief Executive Office (CEO) of NVIDIA. The company’s board of directors have appointed longtime CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO while searching for a permanent replacement. But Kress has an interesting career history that Microsoft fans may want to know about. Did you know NVIDIA’s new interim CEO spent 13 years working at Microsoft?

NVIDIA’s new interim CEO has a surprising Microsoft background

According to NVIDIA’s official biography, Kress joined Microsoft in 1997 and remained there until 2010. That’s 13 years across several finance and corporate planning positions. Her most notable responsibility came in 2006, when she became CFO of Microsoft’s Server and Tools division. She spent four years overseeing its financial strategy, planning, reporting, and business development.

Kress then moved to Cisco in 2010, where she served as senior vice president and CFO of its Business Technology and Operations Finance organization. She joined NVIDIA in September 2013 as executive vice president and CFO.

Interestingly, Kress has now spent more than 13 years managing NVIDIA’s finances. She has witnessed the company’s transformation into a dominant force in AI chips and accelerated computing. Now, she is responsible for leading the entire company during an extraordinary leadership transition.

Trump wants Tim Cook to become NVIDIA’s new CEO

NVIDIA’s board said it will consider both internal and external candidates for Huang’s permanent replacement. Speaking of potential external choices, US President Donald Trump has floated the name of former Apple CEO Tim Cook. Only time will tell whether that suggestion ever becomes a reality.