Persis Drell, a pivotal figure on Nvidia’s board of directors for over a decade, has stepped down. Drell, an esteemed engineering professor at Stanford University, cited a desire to pursue “new professional opportunities” as the reason for her departure. This move, effective Wednesday, comes as Nvidia continues its unprecedented growth trajectory, largely fueled by the insatiable demand for its AI-centric hardware.
While the company has stated Drell’s resignation is amicable and not due to any disagreements regarding its operations or policies, her departure marks the first change to the board since astronaut Ellen Ochoa resigned in June. Drell, who also served on the compensation committee, leaves behind a board now comprising 10 directors, including CEO Jensen Huang.
Drell’s tenure coincided with Nvidia’s meteoric rise. The chipmaker’s stock has surged by an astounding 22,000% since the close of 2015, propelling it to become the world’s most valuable company. This remarkable ascent is intrinsically linked to the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence technologies, where Nvidia’s GPUs have become indispensable for training and deploying sophisticated AI models.
Her personal investment in the company reflects this success. Drell holds nearly 143,000 Nvidia shares, a stake currently valued at approximately $26 million. Her compensation from Nvidia last year, detailed in the company’s annual report, amounted to around $344,000, with a significant portion, nearly $259,000, awarded in stock. This compensation structure is typical for board members of high-growth technology companies, aligning their financial interests with the company’s performance.
Drell’s academic and administrative background is deeply rooted in engineering and research. Since 2002, she has been a professor at Stanford. Her leadership roles at the university included serving as the dean of the School of Engineering from 2014 to 2017, and subsequently as Stanford’s provost from 2017 to 2023. Prior to these positions, she directed the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), a renowned particle physics laboratory, from 2007 to 2012. This extensive experience in both academia and research leadership has undoubtedly contributed valuable strategic insights to Nvidia’s board, particularly as the company navigates the complex landscape of cutting-edge technological development and its commercial applications.
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