MASSENA -- The CEO of Arconic, a company created when Alcoa split into two corporations, has stepped down.

Arconic operates the forging and extrusions plant at the Massena facility, which was part of Alcoa before the split.

The company in a news release said Klaus Kleinfeld resigned after sending a letter directly to a senior office of Elliot Management, Arconic's largest shareholder.

"Mr. Kleinfeld stepped down as Chair and CEO by mutual agreement after the Board learned that, without consultation with or authorization by the Board, he had sent a letter directly to a senior officer of Elliott Management that the Board determined showed poor judgment," Arconic said in a news release.

"Importantly, this decision was not made in response to the proxy fight or Elliott Management’s criticisms of the Company’s strategy, leadership or performance and is not in any way related to the financials or records of the Company. The Board continues to believe that under Mr. Kleinfeld’s leadership, the Company successfully executed a transformative vision and improved business performance amid a complex market environment, and the Board reaffirms the strategy developed under Mr. Kleinfeld’s leadership and shared with our investors, customers and employees."

MarketWatch is reporting that Kleinfeld's ouster follows "bully tactics" by Elliot Management. Read more about that here.

In 2015, shortly before Alcoa announced their plans to close their Massena smelter, the company announced plans to split into two corporations - Alcoa and Arconic.

Arconic was officially formed last year, not long after the state announced a bailout deal worth more than $70 million to keep the Alcoa smelter open through 2019 and preserve between 400 and 500 jobs.