Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg placed on paid leave amid board dispute
Matt Mullenweg, chief executive of Automattic, has been put on a paid leave of absence after a board vote that he says was driven by CFO Mark Davies.
An internal announcement seen by a media outlet shows that Automattic’s board has removed Matt Mullenweg from his role as chief executive, placing him on a paid leave of absence while retaining his board seat. Mullenweg claims the decision was the result of a conspiracy involving chief financial officer Mark Davies and board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider and Sue Decker, whom he says voted for the leave despite his opposition.
The board has appointed Davies as interim CEO, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the company during this period. The development follows Mullenweg’s 2024 public pressure campaign against a prominent WordPress hosting provider, a move that split the open-source community and sparked ongoing litigation. Automattic has not responded to requests for comment.
Why it matters
The leadership shift at Automattic could affect the direction of WordPress.com and the broader open-source ecosystem.
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