Nvidia (NVDA) has grown into a $4.5 trillion giant under the 33-year leadership of Jensen Huang, but the company has yet to name a clear person to take over his role. While Huang shows no signs of slowing down at 62, the lack of a public plan B is starting to worry some investors. As of today, the company remains the most valuable business in the world, yet it is one of the few tech titans without a visible “number two” executive ready to step in.
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Huang Commands a Global Tech Empire
The founder’s presence is felt in every corner of the company. Unlike most CEOs who use many layers of managers, Huang runs a very flat organization where he stays involved in tiny details. He is known for pushing his teams extremely hard, often saying he “tortures” them so they can do their best work. This hands-on approach has worked perfectly so far, but it makes it very difficult for anyone else to learn how to lead the company in his style.
Because Huang handles so much himself, investors are concerned about “key man risk.” This means that if something were to happen to him, the company might struggle to find its direction. Experts like Jon Bathgate argue that Nvidia would likely have to change how it is organized if Huang were no longer in charge.
Board Mentors Potential Future Leaders
While there is no official heir, several top executives are gaining respect in the industry. Ian Buck, who helped create the software that makes Nvidia’s chips so powerful, and Bryan Catanzaro, a leader in AI research, are both seen as brilliant technical minds. However, they usually stay in the background and focus on engineering rather than the big-picture business strategy that Huang handles.
Other big tech companies have handled this transition differently. Apple (AAPL) moved from the creative vision of Steve Jobs to the organized management of Tim Cook. Microsoft (MSFT) went through a few different leaders before finding Satya Nadella. At Nvidia, most of the top executives are either near Huang’s age or focus strictly on their own departments, leaving no one who looks like a “CEO-in-training.”
The Pressure Increases as Nvidia Grows More Profitable
The pressure to find a successor is growing because Nvidia is now so profitable. The company is expected to make $113 billion in profit this year alone, more money than it used to make in total sales just a few years ago. With so much money on the line, shareholders want to know that the company can keep winning even after the founder eventually steps away.
Is Nvidia a Buy, Hold, or Sell?
Nvidia’s stock has a consensus Strong Buy rating among 42 Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on 39 Buys, one Hold, and one Sell recommendation issued in the past three months. The average NVDA price target of $264.09 implies 41.6% upside from current levels.
