Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is facing increased pressure after an alleged intimate relationship with a woman suspected by US intelligence services of being a Chinese spy. US President Donald Trump said the FBI was investigating Huang after Nvidia began an internal investigation, while shareholders filed a lawsuit alleging that Huang and the company had misled them by concealing the relationship. Huang continues to lead Nvidia, described as the world’s second-most valuable company.

The episode has also drawn attention to Nvidia’s dependence on Huang, who has led the company for more than 30 years and is widely viewed by investors as its driving force. The company’s public filings do not set out a specific succession plan, and Nvidia is the only one of the largest US companies without a board chair separate from its CEO, according to the account. Huang owns 3.6% of Nvidia and has no shares with special voting rights, meaning he could theoretically be replaced, although investors are said to fear that his departure would damage the company. His daughter and son hold senior positions at Nvidia, but it is unclear whether either is intended to succeed him.