Nvidia has pushed back against media reports suggesting its board has already approached Arm CEO Rene Haas regarding the company's vacant top spot.

In an official statement released to CNBC on Friday, the Nvidia board clarified that it is currently in the middle of hiring an executive search firm and has not yet made formal contact with any prospective candidates. The board emphasized that any speculation naming specific internal or external individuals at this stage is premature.

The response follows a report by the Financial Times earlier in the day, which claimed insiders revealed Nvidia had tapped Haas as a contender to succeed Jensen Huang. While the FT report suggested Haas was among several being evaluated, Arm declined to comment on the matter. Observers note that while the FT used the term "approached," the board specifically denied "formal engagement," leaving room for different interpretations of the wording.

Haas boasts a familiar history with Nvidia, having spent seven years at the company between 2006 and 2013 as a vice president of computing products before joining Arm in 2013 and steering its 2023 Nasdaq debut. He also maintains close ties with several Nvidia board members. Arm is majority-owned by SoftBank, where Haas also manages international operations. Notably, Nvidia’s attempt to acquire Arm in 2020 was ultimately blocked by global regulators in 2022.

Aside from Haas, industry watchers are pointing to several other potential successors. Internal names include Interim CEO and CFO Colette Kress and Data Center VP Ian Buck, while external figures like AMD CEO Lisa Su and Apple hardware chief Johny Srouji are also being discussed.

The leadership transition was triggered after Jensen Huang abruptly stepped down as CEO, president, and board member on Thursday, concluding a 33-year tenure since co-founding the company in 1993. His departure followed mounting controversies involving an alleged extramarital affair with an employee and separate allegations regarding a woman suspected of Chinese espionage.

Nvidia has named CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO and appointed Harvey Jones as its inaugural board chairman while the formal search gets underway. The company is set to release its third-quarter earnings report on Monday.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]