Two Major Nvidia Shareholders Urge Board to Slow CEO Search and Keep Huang's Return on the Table

• Dispatched: Nov 14, 2026 · 08:38 ET (13:38 UTC)

One-sentence summary: Two institutional shareholders holding about $2.1 billion of Nvidia stock have written jointly to the board, asking directors to run a slow, deliberate succession process, to refrain from naming a permanent chief executive before all the facts are known, and to keep open the possibility of founder Jensen Huang returning.

Verification status: ✓ Shareholder letter published by the signatories on X / cross-confirmed by CNBC, ANI and other outlets

Core Facts & Consensus Delta:

The letter was signed by Brad Gerstner, founder and chief executive of Altimeter Capital, and Gavin Baker, managing partner and chief investment officer of Atreides Management. It is dated November 13, 2026, was made public by the signatories on Friday, November 13, 2026 ET, and was reported by CNBC the same day.

Its central ask is that the board pursue a "slow, measured, and deliberate process" on the future leadership of Nvidia, leaving all options on the table, including the potential return of Jensen Huang, and that it not rush to appoint a permanent chief executive before all the facts are known. Interim chief executive Colette Kress and her team can continue to lead the company in the meantime.

The letter also makes clear that if, after all the facts are known, the board decides that Huang's return is not in shareholders' best interest, that decision is the board's prerogative. It does not dispute the reports about Huang's conduct and does not ask for his immediate reinstatement.

Holdings reference: the two funds together held about $2.1 billion of Nvidia stock, based on filings as of the end of June. Nvidia's board previously told CNBC it is in the process of selecting a search firm and has not formally engaged any potential candidate; the Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the board had approached Arm chief executive Rene Haas — that approach is not yet confirmed.

Background figures: Huang resigned on November 12, 2026 ET as president, chief executive and director, effective immediately. Nvidia shares closed at $162.85 on November 13, 2026 ET, down about 12.75% for the week in a sixth consecutive weekly decline, the longest such streak since October 2012. Market capitalisation has fallen below $4 trillion, down more than 30% from the October 6, 2026 closing high.

Supply-Chain & Market Read-Through: A slower succession means no permanent chief executive is likely to be named before the board's independent investigation — led by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and a former federal prosecutor — reaches its conclusions. The earnings call after the close on November 17, 2026 ET, hosted by Kress, will be the first time the market hears the transition plan in the company's own words.

For HBM and memory makers (SK Hynix 000660.KS, Samsung Electronics 005930.KS, Micron MU, SanDisk SNDK), Nvidia is the central anchor of HBM demand: a prolonged leadership vacuum could affect how customers confirm 2027 compute purchasing plans and supplier allocations. Nvidia has, however, confirmed it will keep its commitment to supply 260,000 GPUs to South Korea, so no interruption is visible at the order level in the near term.

For the AI compute chain, hyperscalers and neocloud operators base purchasing decisions more on Nvidia's roadmap and delivery certainty than on the succession itself. While the top job remains open, attention may drift toward custom ASIC suppliers (AVGO, MRVL) and AMD as alternative sources of supply, but that is a shift in market attention, not a change in supply-demand fundamentals.

Next Catalysts & Watchpoints:

• After the close on November 17, 2026 ET (after 16:00 ET / 21:00 UTC): Nvidia's fiscal third-quarter 2027 results and earnings call, hosted by Kress — the first official word on the transition.
• The conclusions of the board's independent investigation and the selection of a search firm: no official timetable has been given, and it remains to be seen whether the board responds publicly to the shareholder letter.
• November 18, 2026 ET: Huang's closed-door briefing arranged by the House of Representatives.

Sources:

• CNBC (via TradingView) (2026-11-14)
• TalkEsport (Published: 2026-11-14 01:58 ET / 06:58 UTC)
• ANI (via Khel Ja) (Published: 2026-11-14 04:31 ET / 09:31 UTC)

Information only, not investment advice.