Nvidia's Executive Shake-Up: New Hires and Notable Exits

Over the previous year, Nvidia has significantly bolstered its top ranks, securing high-profile professionals in marketing, policy, and HR. This move signals its increasing clout and prosperity in the tech industry.

Nvidia's latest significant recruitment is Alison Wagonfeld, joining as the company's inaugural Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). With over ten years at Google Cloud, her experience is expected to steer Nvidia's marketing strategies as it continues its ambitious expansion.

Beyond Wagonfeld, Nvidia has strategically acquired talent by integrating software leaders from startups, leveraging its financial resources to accelerate growth. The company is also diversifying its talent pool by attracting authorities from government sectors and academic fields, clearly emphasizing its growing influence as a designer of AI chips. As Nvidia expands its product offerings—particularly in cybersecurity and software—it positions itself to appeal to governmental bodies and large corporations.

In contrast to a hectic 2024 that saw major figures like Keith Strier and Manuvir Das exit, Nvidia has witnessed more stability in leadership this year. While some prominent names departed, new stars have been inducted to fuel future developments.

Key Appointments in 2025

Kristin Major, Senior VP of HR

Kristin Major took charge as Nvidia's Senior Vice President of Human Resources in February 2025. After a comprehensive 13-year career at Hewlett Packard, where she excelled in both legal and HR functions, Major now plays a crucial role on CEO Jensen Huang’s executive leadership panel.

Jiantao Jiao, Director of Research

Joining Nvidia in June, Jiantao Jiao brings a wealth of knowledge in post-training AI methodologies and industry integration. Formerly at the helm of Nexusflow AI and an academic with ties to UC Berkeley, Jiao focuses on bridging the gap between scholarly investigation and practical industry applications.

Mark Weatherford, Cybersecurity Lead

Mark Weatherford assumes the mantle of head of cybersecurity strategy and engagement at Nvidia. His illustrious career in public service, highlighted by his tenure as the first Deputy Undersecretary for Cybersecurity under the Obama administration, prepares him to address Nvidia’s security challenges.

Rochan Sankar, Enfabrica Acquisition

In a major acquisition move, Nvidia has secured Rochan Sankar from AI startup Enfabrica. Beyond integrating him, the $900 million deal also means absorbing his team into Nvidia, aiming to boost capabilities in managing large-scale AI GPU workloads.

Krysta Svore, VP of Applied Research in Quantum Computing

Krysta Svore stepped into Nvidia’s environment in November, transitioning from nearly two decades at Microsoft. Svore is reputed for her work in advanced quantum computing and is set to drive Nvidia's aspirations in developing quantum computing frameworks.

Danny Auble, System Software Director

By acquiring SchedMD, Nvidia onboarded Danny Auble, known for the open-source Slurm workload management tool. His insights are poised to propel Nvidia's software development pursuits while continuing Slurm's open-source legacy.

Jonathan Ross and Sunny Madra, Strategic Software and Hardware Roles

Nvidia made a notable stride by bringing Groq’s Jonathan Ross and Sunny Madra aboard. Following a significant $20 billion contract licensing Groq’s inferencing technology, Nvidia is signaling a pivotal transition in AI priorities from mere training to optimizing inference processes.

Highlighted Exits in 2025

Dieter Fox, Robotics Research Leader

After a valuable tenure spanning eight years, Dieter Fox left Nvidia to join the AI research world at Ai2. His next chapter involves developing foundational models pivotal for robotics, leveraging his robust research background.

Minwoo Park, Autonomous Vehicles Specialist

Transitioning to the automobile giant Hyundai, Minwoo Park—previously focused on autonomous vehicle initiatives at Nvidia—will now oversee Hyundai’s advanced platform division, aiming to further autonomous driving innovations.

Ellen Ochoa and Rob Burgess, Board Member Changes

The governing board saw changes too, as astronaut Ellen Ochoa departed for personal motivations, and Rob Burgess, whose demise in December impacted many, left a void with his tech-oriented guidance.