President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed former Apple CEO Tim Cook as the ideal successor to Jensen Huang at Nvidia, following Huang's resignation amid revelations about his personal relationships. The chipmaker has already named CFO Colette Kress as interim chief executive and launched a search for a permanent replacement, considering both internal and external candidates.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "NOW THAT Nvidia CEO JENSEN HUANG, who has done a fantastic job, has resigned, there is only one man to take his place - TIM COOK of Apple. A Legend replaces a Legend!" The endorsement came as Nvidia's board weighs its options, with Cook already being discussed as a potential external candidate alongside Arm Holdings CEO Rene Haas.
Expert Views on Cook's Candidacy
Jun Bei Liu, founder and lead portfolio manager at Ten Cap, told the BBC that Nvidia might initially favor an internal appointment but could look externally for a more permanent solution. Liu noted that Cook's experience managing global supply chains makes him an interesting choice, though she questioned whether he would leave Apple, where he currently serves as executive chairman.
Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo, highlighted Cook's track record of succeeding Steve Jobs and overseeing a successful leadership transition. "Having already stepped back from day-to-day management at Apple, he is an interesting external possibility," Chanana said. However, she cautioned that Nvidia's competitive edge depends heavily on semiconductor innovation, so Cook would need strong technical leadership alongside him. His willingness to take on another demanding CEO role remains uncertain.
Cook's Track Record
During his tenure as Apple's CEO, Cook led the company through extraordinary growth, surpassing $1 trillion, $2 trillion, and $3 trillion market capitalizations. Apple's shares gained more than 2,200%, the company sold over 3 billion iPhones, and it returned nearly $900 billion to shareholders through buybacks. His expertise extended beyond financial performance to building a vast global supply chain and integrating Apple's product and service portfolio.
Cook's experience navigating geopolitical tensions could also appeal to Nvidia, which faces challenges over access to the Chinese market and US export restrictions. He maintained relationships with both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their trade conflict, securing an exemption for iPhones from US tariffs last year. Apple also shifted a significant portion of its manufacturing away from China to countries like India and Vietnam while retaining Chinese consumers.
Internal Candidates in the Running
Prediction market Kalshi has highlighted internal successors. Traders assign Ian Buck, vice president overseeing Nvidia's hyperscale and high-performance computing business, a 35% chance of replacing Huang. Kress, currently interim CEO, has a 29% probability, according to Kalshi traders.
Huang's departure has also drawn attention to his unusually close relationship with Trump, as Huang had become an influential voice in US artificial intelligence policy. He advocated for preserving open-source AI and lobbied for allowing Nvidia to export advanced chips to China, making him a key interlocutor for the administration as Washington shaped its technology and trade policies.
As Nvidia's board deliberates, the choice of a new CEO will be critical for the company's future direction. Cook's potential candidacy brings a mix of proven leadership and global supply chain expertise, but questions remain about his interest and the technical demands of the role.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
