A decade ago no one would have thought that a GPU and chip manufacturer would go on to become the most valuable company in the world. And yet, NVIDIA accomplished this impressive feat. Today, Jensen Huang’s semiconductor manufacturing company is at the top with a valuation of over $3.3 trillion, surpassing giants like Microsoft and Apple.
Thanks to the blooming AI landscape, NVIDIA’s valuation went from $400 billion to $3 trillion in the span of a year, marking one of the fastest and most remarkable growth stories in recent history. From humble beginnings to a trillion-dollar company, NVIDIA managed to defy the odds and rewrite history.
However, behind every successful organization is a solid support system. An elite group of individuals known as the Board of Directors, provides guidance and oversight to ensure the company’s continued success. These individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. And NVIDIA is no different.
As of June 2024, the semiconductor manufacturing company has 12 members on its Board of Directors. This article will look into NVIDIA’s Board of Directors, their designations, expertise, net worth, and more.
Nvidia GROOT vs Tesla Optimus: What is the Difference Between These Humanoid Robots?
Nvidia Board of Directors List
Here are the 12 Board of Directors of NVIDIA:
- JENSEN HUANG
Designation: Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Net Worth: $110 billion
Founder, President, and CEO, Jensen Huang has become a prominent personality in the tech world. He founded NVIDIA in 1993 and turned it around to become the biggest GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) manufacturer in the world. And now, it is the most valued public company with a valuation of over $3.3 trillion. Before founding NVIDIA, Huang worked at AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), one of NVIDIA’s current competitors, and LSI Logic, a storage company. He owns over 3% of NVIDIA’s stocks and is the 13th richest person in the world.
- Mark A. Stevens
Designation: Former Director of NVIDIA
Net Worth: $8.4 billion
Mark A Stevens is a venture capitalist and a seasoned executive. He is the managing partner of S-Cubed Capital, a private family office investment firm. Before joining S-CUbed Capital, he was a managing partner at Sequoia Capital from 1993 to 2011. Stevens holds a BSEE, a BA in Economics, and an MS in Computer Engineering from the University of Southern California. He also has an MBA degree from Harvard Business School. Also, he was a director of Quantenna Communications, Inc. from 2016 to 2019 and is a trustee of the University of Southern California. Mark Steven was a Director at NVIDIA from 1993 to 2006 and since 2008, he has been a board member.
- Rob Burgess
Designation: Independent Consultant
Net Worth: Unspecified
Robert Burgess serves as an Independent Consultant on NVIDIA’s Board of Directors. He was appointed the CEO of Macromedia, Inc., from 1996 to 2005. The company was then acquired by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Burgess held key roles at Silicon Graphics, Inc., (SGI). He then led Alias Research, Inc., a publicly traded 3D software company, as its CEO and Board member until its acquisition by SGI. Burgess holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree from McMaster University. He joined NVIDIA in 2011.
- Tench Coxe
Designation: Former Managing Director
Net Worth: $5.5 billion
Tench Coxe joined the board of NVIDIA in 1993. He started his career at Sutter Hill Ventures, a venture capital investment firm, and soon became its Managing Director. Before joining Sutter Hill Ventures, Coxe was director of marketing and MIS at Digital Communication Associates and also serves on the board of directors of Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc., an institutional money management. As of 2024, he is the third-largest shareholder in NVIDIA after CEO Jensen Huang and board member Mark Stevens. It was his shares in NVIDIA that made him a billionaire.
- John O. Dabiri
Designation: Centennial Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
Net Worth: Unspecified
John Oluseun Dabiri is an aeronautics engineer. He is the Centennial Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech. Dabiri is the recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship for his work on theoretical engineering. Dr. Dabiri holds a BSE degree summa cum laude in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University, an MS degree in Aeronautics, and a PhD degree in Bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology. He is one of the newest Board members of NVIDIA, joining the corporation in 2020.
- Persis S. Drell
Designation: Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Physics, and Former Provost, Stanford University
Net Worth: $38 million
Persis S. Drell is a professor of materials science and engineering and a professor of physics at the Ivy League school, Stanford University School of Engineering. From 2014 to 2017, she worked as the Dean of Stanford School of Engineering. In 2017, she was appointed as the Provost of Stanford University. For 5 years, she led the US Department of Energy’s SLAC National Acceleratory Laboratory, which is operated by Stanford, as its Director. Drell joined NVIDIA’s board in 2015.
- Dawn Hudson
Designation: Former Chief Marketing Officer, National Football League
Net Worth: Unspecified
Dawn Hudson is an American business executive with years of experience in marketing, advertising, and corporate leadership. She began her career as the President of Pepsi-Cola North America and simultaneously served as CEO of PepsiCo’s foodservice division. Then from 2005 to 2007, she led Pepsi-Cola North America, the beverage division for the U.S. and Canada as its President and CEO. For four years, Hudson was the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the National Football League (NFL). She previously worked as an executive in companies like P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc., Allergan, Inc., Lowes Companies, Inc., Modern Times Group MTG AB, and more. Dawn Hudson joined NVIDIA’s board in 2013.
- Harvey C. Jones
Designation: Managing Partner, Square Wave Ventures
Net Worth: $1.1 billion
Harvey C. Jones is an investor and an entrepreneur. He founded two companies, Daisy Systems Corp., in 1981 and Tensilica Inc., in 1997, both of which were tech-based startups. Since 1994, he has been the Managing Partner at Square Wave Ventures, which is a private investment firm. Jones holds a BS in Mathematics and Computer Sciences from Georgetown University and an MS in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been serving on NVIDIA’s board since its founding in 1993.
- Melissa B. Lora
Designation: Former President, Taco Bell International
Net Worth: Unspecified
Melissa B. Lora is an American business executive. In her 31-year career at Taco Bell Corp., she held various high-ranking executive positions. Also, Lora served as the company’s Global Chief Financial and Development Officer and the President of Taco Bell International until her retirement in 2018. She has been a board member of KB Home since 2004, Lead Independent Director since 2016, and Conagra Brands, Inc. since 2019. Lora holds a BS in Finance from California State University and an MBA with an emphasis on Corporate Finance from the University of Southern California. Melissa Lora is the newest member of NVIDIA’s Board of Directors, joining the company in 2023.
- Stephen C. Neal
Designation: Chairman Emeritus and Senior Counsel, Cooley LLP
Net Worth: $24 million
Stephen C. Neal is an American attorney. He is the chairman and former CEO (2001-2008) of Cooley LLP, an American international law firm. Before joining Cooley, Neal was a partner of the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of Levi Strauss & Co. from 2007 to 2021 and chairperson from 2011 to 2021. He graduated from Harvard University and holds a JD from Stanford Law School. Neal has been a Board Member of NVIDIA since 2019.
- Brooke Seawell
Designation: Venture Partner
Net Worth: >$ million
Brooke Seawell is an American executive and venture partner. He served as the senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of Synopsys, Inc., an electronic design automation software company. After that, for a year he was the executive vice president of NetDyanmics, Inc., and was a partner at Technology Crossover Ventures from 2001 to 2005. Since 2005, he has been a venture partner of New Enterprise Associates. Additionally, Seawell has a board member of Tenable Holdings, Inc., Glu Mobile, Inc., Informatica Corp., Tableau Software, Inc., and Eargo, Inc. Seawell has a BA in Economics and an MBA in Finance from Stanford University. He joined NVIDIA’s board in 1997.
- Arti Shah
Designation: Former Senior Vice President & Chief Information and Digital Officer, Eli Lilly and Company
Net Worth: Unspecified
Arti Shah is a seasoned executive and scientist with years of experience in the pharmaceutical and digital sectors. She has held numerous high-ranking roles with Eli Lilly and Company, where she worked for over 27 years. In the beginning, she served as a Senior Statistician and Research Scientist, then the Vice President for Biometrics, and transitioned to Global Brand Development Leader of the Bio-Medicines Business Unit. Her most recent role at the pharmaceutical company was as the Senior Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer. Shah holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Statistics and Mathematics, and a PhD in Applied Statistics from the University of California, Riverside. She has been a board member of NVIDIA since 2020. Apart from NVIDIA, she has been a board member of Northwestern Mutual since 2020 and Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care USA, a nonprofit organization.
Colette Kress Net Worth – CFO of Nvidia
Conclusion
NVIDIA’s Board of Directors consists of a diverse group of experienced professionals who keep bring years of knowledge, expertise, and leadership. The people listed above are leaders in their areas of expertise whether it is technology, finance, marketing, law, and academia. They have been pivotal in NVIDIA’s journey from a chipmaker for computer games to becoming the top player in the semiconductor industry.
What is Nvidia’s Project GR00T, for Creating AI Humanoid Robots?