Automattic CEO Temporarily Steps Down Amid Internal Dispute
Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has been put on a paid leave of absence following an internal decision by the company’s board. Mullenweg claims that the leave was the result of a conspiracy orchestrated by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Mark Davies, in coordination with board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker.
The decision to place Mullenweg on leave, despite his opposition, was confirmed by a statement from Automattic’s spokesperson Megan Fox. She stated that the company’s board is fully supportive of Mark Davies, who has been appointed as the interim CEO during Mullenweg’s absence. Fox assured that with Davies at the helm, Automattic is poised to maintain its strategic course and achieve its business objectives.
While Mullenweg will be stepping back from his operational role, he is set to retain his position on the board of Automattic. This internal shift comes against the backdrop of Mullenweg’s ongoing pressure campaign against a major WordPress hosting service, a move that has generated significant controversy within the open-source community and spurred ongoing legal proceedings.
According to a message shared on Automattic’s internal communication platform, Schneider expressed the board’s confidence in Davies, citing his long-term collaboration with the company and his capability to manage the responsibilities of CEO effectively during this transitional period.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theverge.com.