Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang started working with Heller, a crisis communications firm known for handling personal scandals, at least as far back as October 2025, according to new reporting from Wired. That timing matters: it is the same month Huang was first publicly linked to a suspected Chinese spy in a New York Times investigation.
The story escalated on Sunday, when Huang told Nvidia staff in an email that he had an extramarital affair and apologized to employees and his family. Nvidia's board has opened an independent investigation into his activities, saying it has no reason to believe national security or confidential company information was compromised.
Who is Heller, the crisis PR firm Huang hired?
Heller was initially believed to have been hired for matters tied to Huang's personal life, including his family's philanthropic work, according to people familiar with the arrangement cited by Wired. It is not clear whether the firm's early work for the Huang family involved the affair.
Nvidia's head of public policy communications, John Rizzo, also previously worked for Senator Chuck Schumer, an overlap Wired highlights. When contacted by Wired, a Heller representative referred questions to Nvidia, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- Heller's founder, Risa Heller, is known as a fixer for powerful men facing misconduct or personal controversy allegations.
- Past clients and people who sought her advice include Anthony Weiner, Mario Batali and Jeffrey Toobin, per a 2023 New York Magazine profile.
- The firm also handles corporate communications unrelated to personal issues.
- Heller consultants frequently communicated with Huang and his daughter Madison, an Nvidia product marketing director, sources told Wired.
- Before founding Heller, Risa Heller worked for congresswoman Jane Harman and as Chuck Schumer's New York City press secretary.
