# Darrin Chen

> Darrin Chen is the VP of Global Partners (NPN) GTM & Operations at NVIDIA, where he leads go-to-market strategy and operations for the NVIDIA Partner Network - the company's global partner ecosystem spanning solution providers, systems integrators, and channel partners. With 30+ years in technology from storage to networking to AI infrastructure, Chen joined NVIDIA through the 2020 acquisition of Mellanox Technologies, where he had spent over a decade building worldwide channel programs. In mid-2023, NVIDIA expanded his mandate as it split its global channel chief role in two, tapping Chen to oversee its entire NPN program as the company transformed into a full-stack AI computing company.

- **Role:** VP Global Partners (NPN) GTM & Operations at NVIDIA
- **Organizations:** NVIDIA, Mellanox Technologies, QLogic, Seagate Technology, AST Computer, Western Digital
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A., Economics and Psychology, University of California, Irvine (UCI), MBA, Business Management, Pepperdine University
- **Known for:** Led NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN) program following 2023 channel chief restructuring - overseeing 11,000+ global partners, Shepherded Mellanox's worldwide channel program through NVIDIA's $7B acquisition in 2020, Built and scaled worldwide channel operations at Mellanox Technologies over 11+ years

## Career timeline

- **1991-1996** — Product Manager at AST Computer
- **1996-1999** — Product Marketing Manager at Seagate Technology
- **1999-2008** — Various management roles in product marketing, channel marketing, and channel sales at QLogic
- **2008-2009** — Senior Director, OEM & Channel Field Marketing at Mellanox Technologies
- **2009-2014** — Senior Director, Worldwide Channels at Mellanox Technologies
- **2014** — Promoted to VP, Worldwide Channels at Mellanox Technologies, reporting to SVP Worldwide Sales Marc Sultzbaugh
- **2020** — NVIDIA completes $7B acquisition of Mellanox; Chen transitions to NVIDIA as VP, Worldwide Channels, Networking
- **2023** — NVIDIA restructures global channel chief role; Chen appointed VP Global Partners (NPN) GTM & Operations, taking charge of entire NVIDIA Partner Network

## Achievements

- Led NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN) program following 2023 channel chief restructuring - overseeing 11,000+ global partners
- Shepherded Mellanox's worldwide channel program through NVIDIA's $7B acquisition in 2020
- Built and scaled worldwide channel operations at Mellanox Technologies over 11+ years
- Promoted to VP at Mellanox in March 2014, a move personally praised by CEO Eyal Waldman
- Oversaw Mellanox's global two-tier distribution model across 11+ years
- Over 30 years of progressive technology industry leadership spanning storage, networking, and AI infrastructure

## Latest updates

- **2023-06** — Appointed VP Global Partners (NPN) GTM & Operations following NVIDIA's restructuring of its global channel chief function
- **2020-04** — Transitioned to NVIDIA following completion of the $7B Mellanox acquisition as VP, Worldwide Channels, Networking

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrinneilchen

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/darrin-chen
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Last updated: 2026-05-31