Nova Taps Tech Veteran Rami Hadar for Board to Steer Growth Strategy

REHOVOT, Israel – December 29, 2025 – Semiconductor metrology leader Nova (NASDAQ: NVMI) has fortified its leadership by appointing Rami Hadar, a high-tech industry veteran with over 25 years of executive and investment experience, to its Board of Directors. The appointment, effective as of December 24, 2025, is a strategic move that aligns deep operational expertise with Nova's ambitious growth trajectory in the increasingly complex semiconductor market.

Hadar’s appointment comes as Nova enjoys a period of record-breaking financial performance, driven by surging demand for its advanced process control solutions. The addition of a director with a proven track record in scaling technology companies, executing mergers and acquisitions, and navigating market shifts signals Nova’s intent to not only sustain its momentum but to aggressively capitalize on future opportunities.

"As Nova continues to execute its growth strategy, we are excited to welcome Rami Hadar to our Board of Directors," said Eitan Oppenhaim, Nova's Chairman of the Board, in the official announcement. "Rami's extensive experience in scaling technology companies, driving innovation, and creating shareholder value will be instrumental in supporting Nova's strategic initiatives and long-term success."

A Proven Architect of Growth and Transformation

Rami Hadar’s professional history is a blueprint for corporate growth and successful transformation. His most notable tenure was as CEO of Allot Communications from 2006 to 2014, where he engineered a remarkable turnaround. Under his leadership, Allot pivoted into the mobile data sector, quadrupled its sales to over $100 million, achieved sustained profitability, and successfully executed three strategic acquisitions in the security and video domains. His guidance was also crucial during Allot's 2006 Nasdaq IPO and a subsequent secondary offering.

This experience in leading public companies through periods of intense growth and M&A activity is directly applicable to Nova's current position. The company recently reported record quarterly revenues, bolstered by the strategic acquisition of Centronics metrology and soaring demand for its solutions in advanced packaging—a segment where its revenue doubled in the last year. Hadar's background suggests he will be a key advisor in identifying and integrating future acquisitions and steering the company through the complexities of scaling its global operations.

Before his success at Allot, Hadar co-founded and led CTP Systems until its acquisition by DSP Communications, and later served as CEO of Native Networks, orchestrating its acquisition by Alcatel. This consistent history of building value and guiding companies to successful exits underscores the strategic acumen he brings to Nova's boardroom.

Deepening Roots in the Israeli Tech Ecosystem

Beyond his operational roles, Hadar is a central figure in Israel's vibrant technology landscape, often referred to as "Silicon Wadi." He currently serves as a Managing Partner at Claridge Israel, a prominent growth fund backed by the Stephen Bronfman family and institutional investors like CDPQ. The fund is known for its long-term, value-added partnership approach, investing in late-stage Israeli companies with a distinct technological edge.

His role at Claridge Israel provides Hadar with a unique vantage point on emerging technologies and market trends, from cybersecurity to quantum computing. This connection strengthens Nova's position within the local innovation ecosystem, potentially opening new avenues for strategic partnerships, talent acquisition, and access to disruptive technologies that could be integrated into its metrology platforms.

Claridge Israel’s philosophy of fostering long-term value creation over short-term profits aligns with the capital-intensive and long-cycle nature of the semiconductor industry. Hadar's dual perspective as both an operator and an investor equips him to help Nova balance immediate market demands with long-range R&D investments, ensuring the company remains at the cutting edge of process control technology.

"I am honored to join Nova's Board of Directors and contribute to the company's exciting journey," Hadar stated. "Nova operates at the forefront of the semiconductor industry, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to help the company capitalize on emerging opportunities and deliver sustained growth."

Navigating a Demanding Industry Landscape

The semiconductor metrology and inspection market is experiencing unprecedented demand, with forecasts projecting its value to exceed $20 billion by the early 2030s. This growth is fueled by a relentless industry-wide push toward more complex and miniaturized chip architectures, such as Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors, 3D NAND memory, and advanced packaging techniques like hybrid bonding.

These technological leaps create immense challenges for manufacturers, as even microscopic defects can ruin entire wafers, costing millions. This is where Nova's solutions are critical. The company has proactively addressed these trends, launching its Nova WMC optical metrology platform for advanced packaging and enhancing its VeraFlex platform with machine learning capabilities to improve precision for advanced logic and memory devices.

Hadar's appointment is timely, as his experience in driving innovation will be vital in navigating this landscape. The industry faces pressures from supply chain complexities, geopolitical tensions, and the high capital cost of next-generation tools. His proven ability to guide companies through strategic shifts will be invaluable as Nova continues to develop the sophisticated optical, material, and chemical metrology solutions required to inspect and control manufacturing processes at the atomic scale.

By adding a director with Hadar's strategic foresight and operational track record, Nova is not just filling a board seat; it is making a clear statement about its commitment to leading the industry through its next phase of innovation and maintaining its essential role in the global technology supply chain.