Nvidia Chief Jensen Huang Hired Crisis Firm Prior to Affair Disclosure

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hired the crisis communications firm Heller Inc. at least a year before he publicly admitted to an extramarital affair with a woman suspected of spying for China.

Client History

Heller Inc. was founded by Risa Heller, who is known for advising powerful men through sexual misconduct allegations and personal scandals according to a 2023 New York Magazine profile. Her past clients include former congressman Anthony Weiner, celebrity chef Mario Batali, and former New Yorker writer Jeffrey Toobin. The firm began working with Huang's family on personal matters and philanthropic endeavors, and also communicated with his daughter and Nvidia product marketing director Madison Huang.

Press Control

Nvidia's internal communications team was told to copy Heller Inc. on press inquiries about Huang following an October 2025 New York Times report. That report detailed business dealings between Nvidia and Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data center company that acquired nearly two billion dollars worth of Nvidia chips. The Times article also described Megaspeed CEO Alice Huang standing next to Jensen Huang at a Taipei gathering of customers.

Investigation

US intelligence officials determined that Alice Huang, who is not related to Jensen Huang, acts as a spy for the Chinese government. On Sunday, Jensen Huang published a statement acknowledging a romantic relationship with a former Megaspeed executive. Nvidia's board announced an independent investigation due to reports that Huang was the target of foreign intelligence efforts, while Heller and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Context

Crisis communications firms are often hired by high-profile corporate leaders to manage media fallout when personal controversies or complex regulatory investigations become public. Semiconductor export restrictions are strict rules set by governments to control the transfer of advanced technology to foreign nations.