Super Micro co-founder indicted on Nvidia smuggling charges leaves board

Super Micro Computer announced on Friday that co-founder Yih-Shyan "Wally" Liaw has stepped down from the company's board following his indictment in the United States for alleged smuggling of equipment containing Nvidia artificial intelligence chips into China. The indictment was made public by a federal court on Thursday. Alongside Liaw, who serves as the senior vice president of business development, the indictment also names sales manager Ruei-Tsan "Steven" Chang and contractor Ting-Wei "Willy" Sun. In light of these serious allegations, Super Micro has placed both Liaw and Chang on administrative leave and has terminated its relationship with Sun. The news has had a significant impact on Super Micro’s stock, which saw a sharp decline of 33% on Friday. In response to the situation, the company announced DeAnna Luna, who joined from Intel in 2024, as its acting chief compliance officer. Luna has been serving as vice president of global trade and sanctions compliance, as noted on her LinkedIn profile. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.