Matt Mullenweg tells Automattic staff in Slack he's back in control after CEO ouster | TechCrunch

Internal strife has recently surfaced at Automattic, the parent organization behind WordPress.com, following a series of conflicting leadership updates.

The company's co-founder, Matt Mullenweg, recently declared on an internal communications channel that he has reassumed his role as chief executive officer. This announcement followed reports of his sudden removal by the board of directors just days prior, during which he was put on a paid leave of absence and replaced by the chief financial officer, Mark Davies, who served as temporary head. Mullenweg alleged that board members had plotted his removal without his knowledge, leading to a highly volatile situation within the firm's leadership ranks.

The status of the company's executive leadership remains highly uncertain as official confirmation of Mullenweg's return has not been formally released by the board. Meanwhile, reports emerged that the temporary chief executive's internal messaging account was deactivated, and Mullenweg reportedly restricted administrator permissions on the corporate network. Mullenweg has publically connected his sudden removal to ongoing legal battles with WP Engine and its majority stakeholder, suggesting outside corporate influences motivated the board's initial decision. The internal confusion highlights ongoing tensions between the prominent founder and the governing board of the web development giant.