Nvidia book author said there are only two real candidates to replace Jensen Huang Frank DeMatteo Thu, November 12, 2026 at 11:03 AM EST 4 min read NVDA -4.37% ARM +0.21% Explore stocks on Coinbase Trading disclosure Trading disclosure The above button links to Coinbase. Yahoo Finance is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not offer securities or cryptocurrencies for sale or facilitate trading. Coinbase pays us for certain activity generated through this link. Prices displayed are informational.
Investing.com -- Following this morning's stunning news, the question of who should lead NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) after Jensen Huang is no longer just a matter of corporate succession. It is about whether one of the world's most influential technology companies can maintain its extraordinary momentum without the man who built it.
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According to Tae Kim, author of The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant, the answer is yes. Despite the shock surrounding Huang's departure following his infidelity with two women, Kim believes NVIDIA has enough leadership talent and institutional strength to thrive under a new chief executive. However, he believes the board should focus on just two candidates: Rene Haas and Ian Buck.
Kim's first choice is Rene Haas, currently CEO of Arm Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM) and a former NVIDIA executive.
Haas brings an attractive combination of technical understanding, executive experience and leadership skills. During his time at Arm, he has demonstrated that he can successfully manage a major technology company outside NVIDIA. He also understands NVIDIA's corporate culture and is already familiar with many of its senior executives.
That familiarity could prove invaluable during a leadership transition. According to Kim, former NVIDIA employees have spoken highly of Haas and enjoyed working under him.
His appointment would offer continuity without simply trying to replicate Jensen Huang's leadership style. Haas has the experience and public-facing presence needed to reassure investors, employees, customers and business partners that NVIDIA remains in capable hands.
Kim's second candidate is Ian Buck, NVIDIA's vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing.
While Haas represents the experienced corporate leader, Buck represents NVIDIA's technological DNA.
Buck is particularly important because he invented CUDA, NVIDIA's software platform that helped transform the company's GPUs into the foundation of modern accelerated computing and AI development.
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Today, he oversees products and technologies used by major cloud providers and other large customers. Kim believes Buck possesses the engineering expertise, customer relationships and respect among employees necessary to guide NVIDIA through its next phase of growth.
His appointment would send a powerful message: NVIDIA's future will remain firmly rooted in technological innovation.
Beyond choosing a new CEO, Kim highlights another critical priority: retaining Jonah Alben, NVIDIA's senior vice president of GPU engineering.
Alben plays an essential role in developing the company's GPU architecture and long-term product roadmap. Kim believes keeping him, alongside Buck, would help ensure that NVIDIA's technological development continues without disruption.
In other words, the board's challenge is not simply finding a replacement for Huang. It must also protect the engineering leadership responsible for NVIDIA's competitive advantage.
Kim acknowledges that Huang's departure marks the end of an extraordinary leadership era. However, he no longer believes NVIDIA's success depends on one individual.
Demand for AI computing remains enormous, and the company's technology, talent and customer relationships provide a strong foundation for continued growth. Even if political pressure, regulation or changes in international markets slow expansion, Kim believes the underlying AI opportunity remains substantial.
His message to NVIDIA's board is straightforward: choose Rene Haas or Ian Buck, retain Jonah Alben and preserve the company's technological direction.
The bottom line? Jensen Huang may have made NVIDIA what it is today, but its future does not have to end with him. Under the right leadership, the company can continue shaping the AI revolution. For Kim, Rene Haas and Ian Buck are the two people best positioned to make that happen.
Nvidia book author said there are only two real candidates to replace Jensen Huang
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