Automattic Board Forces CEO Matt Mullenweg on Leave of Absence
Original: Automattic’s board forces CEO Matt Mullenweg into leave of absence
Why This Matters
Leadership upheaval at Automattic raises questions about the future of WordPress.com and related products serving millions globally.
Automattic's board voted to place founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave against his will. CFO Mark Davies was appointed interim CEO. Mullenweg, who co-created WordPress in 2003, said he received the board resolution only 50 minutes before the meeting and was denied time to consult independent legal counsel.
Automattic founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg has been forced onto a paid leave of absence by the company's board, according to a Slack message seen by TechCrunch. Mullenweg posted in an all-employee Slack channel that CFO Mark Davies, along with board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker, voted to place him on leave. He stated he voted against the measure and received the resolution only 50 minutes before the meeting, with repeated requests for independent legal review denied. Davies was named interim CEO, though Mullenweg retains his seat on the board of directors. Automattic confirmed the action in an emailed statement: 'Matt Mullenweg is currently on leave from Automattic. Mark Davies, Automattic's CFO, will lead the company as interim CEO. The Board has full confidence in Mark's leadership.' Separately, WordPress.org Executive Director Mary Hubbard clarified that the open-source WordPress project was unaffected. The reason for the board's action was not disclosed. Automattic, founded in 2003, owns WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce, and Pocket Casts. The company has been embroiled in a protracted legal dispute with hosting competitor WP Engine following Mullenweg's allegations that WP Engine profited from WordPress without adequately contributing to the community.