Automattic names interim CFO amid leadership shake-up
Original: Automattic names interim CFO after exec departures
Why This Matters
Back-to-back C-suite exits at a major open-source web platform signal real governance stress at Automattic.
Automattic has appointed Jeremy Klaperman, CFO of its WordPress VIP Enterprise unit, as interim CFO. The move follows last week's failed board attempt to oust CEO Matt Mullenweg, which resulted in the exits of former CFO Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan. A board meeting is set for September 23.
Automattic has named Jeremy Klaperman as interim CFO, filling the gap left by Mark Davies, who departed following a turbulent week that saw the company's board attempt — and fail — to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg. Davies had briefly served as interim CEO during Mullenweg's 33-hour absence before Mullenweg returned to the role. Klaperman currently serves as CFO of the WordPress VIP Enterprise business unit and had previously covered the CFO role when Davies was on sabbatical.
In a Slack post, Mullenweg noted that the newly reconstituted board — whose members have not yet been announced — will still need to evaluate both internal and external candidates before making a permanent appointment. He also confirmed that a candidate for Chief Legal Officer has verbally accepted the position, replacing Andy Missan, who left alongside Davies. TechCrunch previously reported that Davies and Missan signed reciprocal severance deals during Mullenweg's brief ouster. Mullenweg closed his post with a show of confidence: 'I have 100% confidence in our cash and financial position.' Special advisor Stephen Wolfram, creator of Wolfram|Alpha, will remain in his role.