Colette Kress
Summary
Colette Kress has been NVIDIA’s executive vice president and chief financial officer since September 2013, after nearly 25 years in finance roles at major technology companies. ([nvidianews.nvidia.com](https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/bios/colette-kress?utm_source=openai))
Biography
Kress joined NVIDIA in September 2013 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Before NVIDIA, she spent three years as senior vice president and CFO of Cisco’s Business Technology and Operations Finance organization, where she worked on financial strategy, planning, reporting and business development. ([nvidianews.nvidia.com](https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/bios/colette-kress?utm_source=openai)) Earlier in her career, Kress spent 13 years at Microsoft, including four years as CFO of its Server and Tools division, and she previously held finance positions at Texas Instruments. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. ([nvidianews.nvidia.com](https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/bios/colette-kress?utm_source=openai))
Notable achievements
- Has led NVIDIA’s finance organization through the company’s shift from a graphics-focused business toward data-center computing and artificial intelligence.
- Managed financial reporting, planning and capital-allocation communication during a period of exceptionally rapid revenue growth.
- Helped oversee the financial transition from NVIDIA’s Hopper platform to Blackwell-based data-center systems. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045810/000104581026000021/nvda-20260125.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Maintained NVIDIA’s public-company reporting and executive-finance processes through major product launches and changing export regulations.
- In fiscal 2026, NVIDIA reported that revenue exceeded the stretch goal used for its executive variable-compensation plan, while Kress’s performance-based awards were tied to revenue, operating income and relative shareholder returns. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045810/000104581026000036/nvda-20260512.htm?utm_source=openai))
Problem areas / controversies
- NVIDIA recorded a $4.5 billion charge in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 for H20 inventory and purchase obligations after new U.S. export-license requirements reduced demand; this was a company-level financial impact rather than evidence of personal misconduct by Kress. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045810/000104581025000230/nvda-20251026.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Export controls and uncertainty over China sales have made forecasting revenue, inventory and gross margins more difficult for NVIDIA’s finance organization. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045810/000104581025000230/nvda-20251026.htm?utm_source=openai))
- NVIDIA’s large equity-based compensation awards, including those granted to senior executives, can make reported compensation and non-GAAP performance comparisons more complicated for shareholders. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1045810/000104581025000095/nvda-20250512.htm?utm_source=openai))
- No major personal controversy involving Kress is well documented in the public filings and reputable sources reviewed; the main risks associated with her role are company-level financial, reporting and regulatory challenges.