After a three and a half years hiatus to focus on personal projects, Kink.com Founder Peter Acworth has returned to the company as CEO, returning with “a plan to reimagine the company for a new, performer-centered fan market,” the company said in announcing Ackworth’s return.

“Twenty years ago, Kink.com helped pioneer the idea that performers were the most important voice in production,” Acworth said. “Today, we’re living in a world where performers not only control who they shoot with and what they shoot, but they often own the content. I wanted to return to a more active role so that I could guide the company in this new era and reinvent the company to serve those creating the content.”

Acworth founded Kink.com in 1997, while a graduate student at Columbia University. Under his leadership, Kink.com “became the largest adult producer of BDSM and fetish entertainment in the world, as well as a leader in ethical, consent-based production,” the company said in its announcement. Acworth stepped from the company’s day-to-day operations in 2018 to explore other ventures and appointed longtime Kink.com employee Alison Boden as CEO.

“I want to thank Alison for leading the company during the last three and a half years,” Acworth said. “She is someone I respect both personally and professionally, and I wish her well. But the truth is, I missed being at the helm of the company I built, especially at such a transformational time for the industry.”

Acworth said he has big changes planned for the company in the weeks ahead, including “moving aggressively into creator content, livestreams and products and services,” according to the company’s announcement, which added that “many kink and fetish creators have struggled for attention among the flood of generic fan site content.”

“We’re a company that’s always believed in serving performers,” Acworth said. “I see Kink as a company that can help creators reach that global kink audience while simultaneously helping fans find the best kink and fetish creators in the world.”