WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg has resumed his role as CEO of Automattic after a brief removal by the company's board of directors.
Key facts
- •Automattic confirmed Saturday that Matt Mullenweg is back as chairman and CEO.
- •The board had previously placed Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence for undisclosed reasons.
- •CFO Mark Davies was briefly named interim CEO during the dispute.
- •Mullenweg publicly challenged his removal on the company's Slack, telling employees he was back in control.
- •Automattic did not comment on reports that board member Toni Schneider is stepping down.
WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg has returned to his position as CEO and chairman of Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com. The company confirmed his reinstatement in a statement issued Saturday evening, following a week of internal conflict that saw the board briefly place him on a paid leave of absence.
The Board's Attempted Removal
Earlier in the week, Automattic’s board voted to place Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence. The company confirmed his removal on Wednesday, announcing that Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies would serve as interim CEO with the board's full confidence. The reasons for the board's initial decision were not disclosed.
Internal Conflict and Reinstatement
Mullenweg challenged the board's decision, accusing members of conspiring against him in messages posted to the company's Slack channel. Sources reported that he removed other administrators from the platform and informed employees that he remained in control of the company. Following his return, an Automattic spokesperson stated that Mullenweg has the full support of the board and many company executives.
Board Composition Uncertainty
Reports have emerged regarding potential changes to the board’s composition, including the possible departure of board member Toni Schneider, a founding CEO of Automattic who currently leads Bluesky. Automattic has not responded to inquiries regarding these reports or potential shifts in board membership, noting that the situation may still be in flux.
Timeline
- WednesdayAutomattic confirmed to TechCrunch that Mullenweg was on leave and Mark Davies was serving as interim CEO.
- FridayAutomattic did not respond to requests for comment regarding board member Toni Schneider.
- Saturday eveningAutomattic issued a statement confirming Mullenweg had returned to his position as CEO.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by TechCrunch.
