Allegations have been raised that Kimberly Powell (킴벌리 파월), a vice president in Nvidia's healthcare division, had a private relationship with Jensen Huang (젠슨 황), the chipmaker's chief executive officer.

On Nov. 12 (local time), IT outlet Business Insider reported that The New York Times covered the relationship, citing five Nvidia sources.

Powell joined Nvidia in 2008 as a director and has worked there for more than 18 years. Early on, she was tasked with expanding the use of Nvidia artificial intelligence chips in medical imaging. Before that, she handled engineering and product-related work at an electronics industry startup. She later became interested in Nvidia's computing chips and contacted the company first. She said Nvidia offered her a job after confirming its technology could be used in medicine.

Powell was promoted to senior director in 2016, leading an AI-focused business development team, and became vice president of the healthcare division in 2017. She currently oversees the healthcare business' hardware and software, including medical imaging, life sciences and drug development technologies. In a podcast released in August, she described working at Nvidia as a "dream come true."

In a 2025 interview with Business Insider, Powell said, "I almost live and breathe healthcare," showing strong interest in the field. In the August podcast, she said Huang had been passionate about the healthcare industry for more than 20 years. She explained that the ability for Nvidia to provide technology so researchers can achieve meaningful results became a driving force for pursuing the business.

According to the report, Powell, 48, reports directly to Huang, 63. The two were seen acting affectionately at a hotel during an Nvidia event held in San Jose, California in March, it said, adding that the scene was captured on video. Powell and Huang are both married.

The allegations are drawing attention as they intersect with an existing probe involving Huang. Nvidia's board is investigating whether Huang was the target of an operation by a foreign intelligence agency. The New York Times previously reported that U.S. authorities suspected Alice Huang, a tech industry figure who had formed a close relationship with Huang, may have been recruited by the Chinese government and could have been involved in intelligence activity targeting Nvidia. Huang acknowledged in a memo sent to employees on Nov. 9 that he had acted unfaithfully to his wife.

Nvidia's code of conduct is also drawing attention in relation to the allegations. Company rules that begin with a letter from Huang specify personal relationships as one of the actions that can cause a conflict of interest. They also stipulate, "Reports of illegal conduct are promptly investigated."