Automattic’s Board Just Put Founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on Leave. He Says Directors Conspired Against Him
Mark Davies will serve as interim CEO after Automattic placed Matt Mullenweg on paid leave, according to a report citing internal messages.
- On Wednesday, Automattic's board placed founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave, naming Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies as interim CEO while Mullenweg remains on the board.
- The leadership change follows years of controversy involving Mullenweg, including a protracted legal battle with WordPress hosting competitor Engine, where he demanded 8% of monthly gross revenue as royalty fees.
- Mullenweg claimed in an internal Slack message that Davies "conspired" with board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker to force his leave, noting he received only 50 minutes of advance notice.
- Some employees told TechCrunch they were "ecstatic" or "relieved" by the news, while others expressed concerns regarding instability; Schneider stated the board is confident Davies will "steer the ship well."
- The fallout from Mullenweg's "nuclear" war against Engine extends to declining WordPress market share and lower attendance at WordCamp, alongside internal strain including a 16% staff reduction from April 2025.
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29 Articles
Automattic Board Ousts Founder Matt Mullenweg as CEO in Stunning Power Shift
Automattic's board voted to place founder Matt Mullenweg on paid leave against his wishes, naming CFO Mark Davies interim CEO. The move caps years of controversy, including a bitter fight with WP Engine that damaged community trust and market position. Mullenweg remains on the board but has lost operational control.
TechCrunch
SlashdotAutomattic's board forces CEO Matt Mullenweg into leave of absence
Mullenweg said in a company Slack message that it was against his will.
Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg reportedly placed on leave
Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of WordPress.com owner Automattic, has been placed on a paid leave of absence, according to a report from 404 Media. In an internal announcement viewed by the outlet, Mullenweg claims Automattic chief financial officer Mark Davies "conspired" with board members to place him on leave. "They voted to put me on […]
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