Automattic Appoints New Board After Investor Push to Oust CEO Mullenweg
Mullenweg named an eclectic board after retaking control, with the company saying the prior directors tried to place him on leave and were removed or resigned.
- Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg has rebuilt the company's board of directors, solidifying control over the parent company of WordPress.com, Tumblr, and WooCommerce following a failed ouster attempt by previous directors.
- Earlier this month, the previous board voted to place Mullenweg on leave in an attempt to remove him, but the CEO retook control just 33 hours and 20 minutes later.
- Announced to staff on Friday, the new board includes science fiction author Hugh Howey, "Breakup Bootcamp" author Amy Chan, and IRL co-founders Henry Khatachryan and Krutal Desai.
- Mullenweg dismissed CFO Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan, and retained Susman Godfrey LLP as new litigation counsel amid ongoing WP Engine disputes.
- Controlling 84% of the company's vote, Mullenweg announced he is serving as CEO, President, Treasurer, and Secretary, affirming that Automattic's mission and priorities remain unchanged.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Automattic Appoints New Board After Investor Push to Oust CEO Mullenweg
Automattic has installed a new board of directors after a failed attempt by investors to place CEO Matt Mullenweg on leave amid disputes over strategy and spending. The refreshed board blends independent tech veterans and investor voices to bring greater oversight while preserving the company’s distinctive remote, open-source culture.
TechCrunch
Automattic has a new board after failed attempt to put CEO on leave
After days of upheaval at Automattic, following a failed attempt to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg, the company has a new board.
Automattic Names New Board After Failed Attempt to Put Mullenweg on Leave
Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg has appointed a new board weeks after the company’s previous directors placed him on leave in an unsuccessful attempt to remove him from leadership. The new directors include science-fiction author Hugh Howey, author Amy Chan, and former IRL co-founders Henry Khachatryan and Krutal Desai. The board changes were announced internally to […]
The show at Automattic resulted in the resumption of absolute control of its CEO, Matt Mullenweg, who completely re-engineered the board of directors. After having been forcibly removed for only 33 hours by his former directors, Mullenweg exploited his ultra-majoritarian voting rights to dissolve the board of directors and install a new eclectic team. The summary of the series of events The forced exclusion: September 9, 2026...
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