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Automattic’s board forces CEO Matt Mullenweg into leave of absence
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Matt Mullenweg, the founder and CEO of Automattic, has been placed on a leave of absence by the company's board of directors. This significant corporate action was revealed in a Slack message from Mullenweg to employees, where he stated the move was initiated against his will. The board voted to install Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies as interim CEO, a decision Mullenweg said he opposed.
Automattic is the parent company of WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce, and Pocket Casts. Mullenweg founded the company in 2003 after co-creating the open-source content management system WordPress. The board's decision to sideline its founder and leader marks a dramatic turn for the influential tech firm.
In his Slack communication, Mullenweg alleged that CFO Mark Davies had "conspired" with board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker. He claimed he received the resolution just 50 minutes before the meeting and was denied a request for time to have it reviewed by legal counsel. Automattic's official statement confirmed the leave, expressing the board's "full confidence" in Davies's leadership.
The move comes after a period of intense turbulence under Mullenweg's leadership. Automattic is embroiled in a protracted lawsuit with web hosting competitor WP Engine, which accuses Automattic and Mullenweg of defamation and abuse of power. Mullenweg had previously demanded WP Engine pay an 8% royalty fee for using the WordPress brand.
Internally, tensions have also been high. In 2024, Mullenweg told employees who disagreed with his direction to resign, with 159 taking severance packages. In April 2025, the company laid off 16% of its staff, affecting some long-term employees.
Reactions among employees are mixed. A source told TechCrunch that while some staff are "ecstatic" or "relieved" by the change, others feel it creates more instability. Mary Hubbard, executive director of the non-commercial WordPress.org project, confirmed it remains unaffected, stating "Matt remains the leader of the WordPress project."
The immediate reasons behind the board's decision remain unclear. With Mullenweg's annual trip to the Burning Man festival often occurring in late August, some speculate the timing may be related to his availability. The future direction of Automattic under interim CEO Mark Davies is now the central question facing the company and the broader WordPress ecosystem.
