Automattic's Board Places CEO Matt Mullenweg on Leave Against His Will
Matt Mullenweg, founder and CEO of Automattic—the parent company of WordPress.com—has been placed on a paid leave of absence by the board against his will. According to an internal Slack message seen by TechCrunch, CFO Mark Davies conspired with other board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker behind Mullenweg’s back to vote for this action. The move was confirmed in a statement from Automattic, which said that Davies would serve as interim CEO while the company continues its operations. Mullenweg's leadership has been controversial over recent years, marked by legal battles with competitors like WP Engine and internal tensions within both the company and open-source community. In 2024, he threatened to deactivate accounts of contributors who opposed his views on WordPress development forks, leading to significant backlash. The board’s decision appears to be a response to ongoing disputes and leadership challenges. The situation has raised questions about Automattic's governance structure and the future direction under new interim leadership.
Topics: Automattic board action CEO leave of absence Matt Mullenweg