Automattic's board forces CEO Matt Mullenweg into leave of absence | TechCrunch

The board of directors at Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, has unexpectedly placed its founder and chief executive officer, Matt Mullenweg, on an involuntary paid leave of absence.

According to internal communications, Mullenweg publicly accused the firm's chief financial officer and several board members of coordinating behind his back to orchestrate his removal, asserting that he was denied adequate time to consult independent legal counsel before the decision was finalized. In his absence, Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies has stepped in as the interim chief executive officer. Despite losing his active leadership role at the commercial entity, Mullenweg is expected to retain his position heading the open-source WordPress.org project, which operations coordinators confirm remains unaffected by the sudden corporate restructuring.

This abrupt leadership change follows a highly turbulent period for Automattic, characterized by intense legal disputes, significant workforce reductions, and deep internal cultural friction. Under Mullenweg's recent tenure, the company entered a protracted legal battle with web hosting competitor WP Engine, which accused Mullenweg of defamation and abuse of power following his demands for royalty payments. Additionally, the organization laid off sixteen percent of its workforce and previously faced a wave of voluntary departures after Mullenweg offered severance to any employees who disagreed with his management style. While some staff members reportedly expressed relief over the board's intervention, others voiced concerns regarding the heightened instability this transition could bring to the organization's future.