Technology
Automattic board puts Matt Mullenweg on leave and appoints interim CEO
Automattic’s board placed founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave against his wishes, according to an employee Slack message reviewed by TechCrunch. The company confirmed his leave and named CFO Mark Davies interim CEO. The change affects the business behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr and Pocket Casts amid litigation and earlier staffing cuts. WordPress.org’s executive director said Mullenweg remains leader of the open source project. The board’s reason for acting, and why it acted now, remain unclear.
Editorial summary · Publisher article
What matters
- Mullenweg told employees he voted against the leave and was denied additional time for independent legal review.
- Automattic confirmed Davies’s appointment and expressed board confidence in his leadership; Davies said Mullenweg remains a director.
- WordPress.org’s executive director said its teams, priorities and work would continue as planned.
Context & caveats
- The company confirmed the leadership transition but did not explain its rationale. Existing disputes do not establish why the board acted.
Why this made the edition
Company confirmation and employee communications substantiate a consequential leadership change, with clear separation between Automattic and WordPress.org and acknowledgment that the board’s rationale is unknown.
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