They built successful businesses, shaped industries and became some of the most influential names in technology. But for some, it was controversy over their personal lives, rather than competition or business failure, that disrupted their careers.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is the latest tech leader to face such scrutiny. His admission of an extramarital affair has come amid allegations of foreign intelligence activity, an independent board investigation and a shareholder lawsuit. Huang continues to lead Nvidia with the backing of its board, and the intelligence-related allegations remain contested.
On November 9, Nvidia and Huang were named in a proposed shareholder class-action lawsuit alleging that they misled investors by failing to disclose his reported relationship with a businesswoman suspected by US authorities of working for Chinese intelligence, Reuters reported. The lawsuit followed Nvidia's November 8 announcement of an investigation into reports that Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. Nvidia has said it has no reason to believe company secrets or US national security have been compromised. China has rejected the espionage allegations.
Huang's controversy brings to mind five other cases involving prominent tech and startup executives in India and abroad, although the allegations and outcomes differ.
In May 2013, Phaneesh Murthy was dismissed as president and CEO of US-listed IT services company iGate following an investigation into his relationship with a subordinate employee. Murthy had earlier helped build Infosys' international business before leaving the company in 2002 following a sexual harassment lawsuit, which was subsequently settled out of court.
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