Founders 100 ETF’s Cassidy urges Nvidia to consider bringing back Jensen Huang

Nvidia lost its co-founder and chief executive this week. At least one investor would like the board to consider calling him back.

Lauren Cassidy, chief investment officer of the Founders 100 ETF, has called for Jensen Huang’s reinstatement. Her argument is that Huang’s leadership is central to the chipmaker’s value.

How Nvidia got here

Bloomberg reported that Huang was ousted after reports of three affairs. One allegedly involved a woman suspected of spying for China.

Research compiled on the episode places the resignation on November 12, 2026, effective immediately. Four days earlier, on November 8, Huang reportedly admitted to personal misconduct in a memo to employees.

Nvidia said on Thursday that Huang will no longer have ties with the company.

The woman at the center of the national security questions has been identified as Alice Huang. She previously worked for Megaspeed, a company that purchased billions in Nvidia chips and has been linked to national security concerns.

The board has opened an independent investigation, which is still ongoing. So far, it has reportedly found no evidence that national security was compromised.

Kress takes the wheel, for now

Colette Kress is stepping in as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. She will also keep her job as chief financial officer.

Kress has served as Nvidia’s CFO since 2013.

The market’s first reaction was rough. Nvidia shares reportedly fell somewhere between 8% and 19% after the announcement, depending on the account and the point in trading.

The resulting hit to Nvidia’s market value is reported to exceed $855 billion.

Why a founder fund wants its founder back

The Founders 100 ETF, which trades under the ticker FFF, launched in December 2025. It invests exclusively in companies still led by their founders.

Nvidia ranks among its largest positions, with a weighting of roughly 6% to 8%.

Cassidy brings more than 23 years of experience in equity research and portfolio management to the debate. Her push frames Huang less as a liability and more as a key asset the company cannot easily replace.

That view will collide with the board’s own read of the situation. Directors chose to sever all ties, not merely to shuffle titles.

What this means for investors and Nvidia

For the Founders 100 ETF, the episode exposes the core risk of its strategy. Concentrating on founder-led firms means betting that founders stick around, and founders are human.

The odds of a reversal look long. Nvidia’s statement that Huang will have no further ties leaves little room for interpretation, and boards rarely reverse course while their own investigation is still running.

The Megaspeed connection adds another layer. A customer that bought billions in Nvidia chips, and that has drawn national security attention, is precisely the kind of detail that invites scrutiny from Washington.

Kress’s dual role buys the board time. The share price will deliver the answer in real time.