Tupuola’s resignation became effective Tuesday, though the company waited until Friday to publicly disclose the change. Nikitin, who established the laser technology firm, will now oversee daily operations and long-term strategy, assuming the weight of the CEO’s responsibilities without an immediate replacement in that specific office.

Simultaneous with this transition, Ann Tewari has resumed her position as global vice president of operations and strategy. Her return follows the conclusion of her brief stint as interim president earlier this week. The board has opted to keep the current governance structure lean, signaling stability as Nikitin returns to a central role in the company’s management.