Alice Huang’s Hong Kong links in focus as Nvidia weighs CEO’s future

Alice Huang, the mainland Chinese businesswoman at the centre of the Jensen Huang scandal, has study, work and business ties to Hong Kong, according to Hong Kong media and company filings. The New York Times has reported that US intelligence officials believe she shared information with Beijing. China rejects the allegation, and she has not publicly responded.

What happened on 11 November?

The New York Times reported, citing five people who worked at Nvidia, that Huang also had a relationship with an executive who reports to the Nvidia founder. The Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia’s board was preparing to remove him. A source said the board was meeting late on Wednesday to decide. Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reports, and no final decision had been announced by the morning of 12 November.

Nvidia shares fell more than 8 percent in after hours trading. Huang has acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and pledged to cooperate with an independent board inquiry, but he has not named anyone. In Washington, Republican Senator Kevin Cramer said he thinks “he’s got to go”, citing “the potential for extortion”. President Donald Trump has publicly defended Huang.

What are Alice Huang’s Hong Kong links?

Caixin reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that she studied for a master’s degree in media management at Hong Kong Baptist University. According to The Standard, this was about 20 years ago. HK01 gives a different timeline, saying she graduated in 2017. Caixin also reported that she worked in HSBC’s private banking division in Hong Kong and in the securities finance business at CITIC Securities. HK01 reported that she obtained Hong Kong permanent residency after completing her master’s degree, and that Singapore company records list her as a director of Megaspeed International from March 2023, using a Hong Kong passport. HK01 did not say how it verified the residency, and no Hong Kong government confirmation has been reported.

[See more: Jensen Huang scandal latest: Trump, Nvidia and Beijing respond]

Her best documented Hong Kong link is a 2019 deal. In an announcement to the Hong Kong stock exchange dated 29 August 2019, Hong Kong listed 7Road Holdings said it had agreed to buy an online games business for 1 billion yuan (about US$145 million). The vendors were Maple Vale Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, and Ms Huang Le, described as a Hong Kong permanent resident. HK01 identifies Huang Le (黃樂) as Alice Huang. The Singapore unit of 7Road was later sold to a company linked to her and renamed Megaspeed, where she was managing director from March to November 2023, according to the Wire China. The reports reviewed carry no comment from the university, the banks or 7Road.

What do China and the companies say?

Asked about the Nvidia board’s inquiry on 9 November, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: “We responded to that last week. The ‘Chinese spy’ allegation is purely unsubstantiated and directed at smearing China.”

Megaspeed said there was “no evidence of any violations concerning the illicit transfer of chips or any illegal activities”. Al Jazeera noted that US officials “have not offered any evidence” for their claims about Alice Huang, and no charges against her have been reported.

What happens next?

Nvidia is due to report quarterly results on 17 November. House committee chairs have asked Huang to attend a closed door briefing on 18 November, and he had not formally replied by the 11 November deadline.