For more than a decade, Colette Kress has been one of the most familiar faces in Nvidia's boardroom, even if she has rarely commanded the spotlight reserved for its co-founder and former chief executive, Jensen Huang. Now, with Huang's sudden exit, the spotlight has shifted firmly to her.

Nvidia's long-serving chief financial officer has been handed the responsibility of steering the world's most influential artificial intelligence (AI) chipmaker through an unexpected leadership transition. Appointed interim chief executive officer with immediate effect on Thursday, November 12, Kress will continue to oversee the company's finances while the board searches for a permanent successor.

The appointment marks a significant moment in the career of an executive who has spent nearly 13 years helping shape Nvidia's financial strategy and navigate its transformation into an AI powerhouse.

Her influence, however, extends well beyond the company's boardroom. Kress is also among America's wealthiest self-made women. Forbes ranked her 32nd on its 2026 list.

But who is the woman now entrusted with one of the biggest jobs in technology?

Long before she became the public face of Nvidia's leadership transition, Kress had built a career spanning some of the biggest names in the technology industry.

A finance graduate from the University of Arizona, she began her professional journey at Texas Instruments, where she spent eight years in finance roles. In 1997, she moved to Microsoft, beginning a 13-year stint that would see her rise through the company's finance organisation.

Her responsibilities grew considerably during this period. In 2006, she became chief financial officer of Microsoft's Server and Tools division, overseeing its financial strategy, planning and reporting.

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