Nvidia has hired Joon H. Kim, a Korean American former federal prosecutor, to lead an independent investigation into reports that Chinese intelligence targeted CEO Jensen Huang through an extramarital relationship.
The company's independent directors said Tuesday they had hired New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz, and that its attorney Kim will lead a "thorough and independent" probe into the case.
The investigation follows media reports that Huang had a relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman and former executive at Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed, and that, according to US intelligence agencies, she was gathering information for Beijing. CEO Huang on Sunday admitted that he had been unfaithful to his wife of more than 40 years and apologized to his family and Nvidia employees.
Kim, 55, previously served as acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York. He also co-led the 2021 independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations against then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned after its findings were released.
Born in the US to Korean parents, Kim graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Law School. He became a federal prosecutor in Manhattan in 2000.
Kim served as acting US attorney from March 2017 to January 2018, overseeing the office’s criminal and civil cases. During his tenure, the office investigated the 2017 Halloween truck attack in Manhattan, carried out by an Islamic State supporter.
Kim is now a litigation partner at New York-based Wachtell, where he handles internal investigations, white-collar criminal defense, regulatory matters and corporate crises. The firm is known for advising on major mergers and acquisitions and handling high-stakes litigation.
junheee@heraldcorp.com
