Nvidia employees rally to bring Jensen back despite code-of-conduct violations

Nvidia Employees Rally for Jensen's Return, Despite Code-of-Conduct Violations

An internal submission at Nvidia calling for Jensen Huang's reinstatement has drawn over 1,600 comments from employees, with several explicitly asking the board to bring him back. One anonymous commenter wrote in all caps: "If you believe in the mission, bring back the boss." A public Instagram post from an Nvidia employee also made the case directly, with the account—normally focused on startup ecosystem engagement—repurposing its platform to rally support for Huang's return.

The petition reflects concern about leadership continuity and Colette Kress, Nvidia's interim CEO and former CFO. Huang has taken public shots at Kress since his ouster, appearing on the Wall Street Journal cover to characterize her negatively. He called her a "deer in the headlights," described her as "more of a reporting CFO," and suggested she lacked the ability to help define strategy or make decisions.

The employee appetite for Huang's return sits in tension with the code-of-conduct violations that led to his removal in the first place. Yet the narrative among staff appears shaped by Nvidia's distinctive culture—one built on extreme talent density and normalized acceptance of mercurial high-performers. The comparison drawn in the segment to figures like Elon Musk suggests employees have grown accustomed to weighing stark trade-offs: acknowledging dysfunction or poor behavior alongside exceptional capability.

Speculation about Huang's next move ranges from philanthropy and investing to starting a robotics company. A SpaceX role was raised as an alternative, though observers deemed returning to Nvidia more likely than him joining Musk's company as an effective employee after decades as a founder. The financial stakes are material: shareholders and employees alike appear concerned about a valuation discount for Nvidia operating without Huang's leadership.