Matt Mullenweg Claims Return to CEO Role at Automattic After Brief Ouster
WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg has claimed he is back in control as CEO of Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com. This follows a board decision earlier this week that placed him on paid leave and appointed CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. In an internal Slack message confirmed by multiple sources, Mullenweg stated the board had "conspired" behind his back but is now in agreement with his return to leadership. Automattic has not officially commented on whether Mullenweg's claim is accurate or if there have been changes at the company level. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Davies' Slack account was deactivated and all Slack admins were removed by Mullenweg. The situation remains unclear as it’s uncertain whether these actions reflect legitimate board decisions or a potential internal conflict. Mullenweg has also suggested involvement from Silver Lake, the private equity firm behind WP Engine—a company currently in legal dispute with Automattic—and hinted at broader tensions affecting his leadership and personal life.
