The short version
- Matt Mullenweg has resumed his role as CEO of Automattic after a brief period of suspension that began earlier this week.
- The leadership change followed a reported conflict between Mullenweg and CFO Mark Davies, who had been appointed interim CEO by the board.
- Mullenweg characterized the incident as a misunderstanding and noted that administrative controls within the company have been reset.
Matt Mullenweg has returned to his position as chief executive officer of Automattic, ending a brief but intense period of uncertainty at the software company. The reinstatement occurred just two days after Mullenweg was placed on paid leave by the board of directors, a move that had triggered significant internal disruption and public speculation about the future leadership of the organization behind WordPress.
The initial shift in power happened when the board voted to suspend Mullenweg’s executive duties. According to reports from 404 Media, Mullenweg informed staff via Slack that CFO Mark Davies had conspired with the board to enact the leave. At that time, Davies was designated as interim CEO, while Mullenweg remained a member of the board. An Automattic spokesperson confirmed these developments to The Verge, stating that Mullenweg was on leave and that Davies held the interim title.
However, the situation reversed rapidly over the weekend. A Slack message viewed by TechCrunch indicated that Mullenweg had regained control of the company’s operations. In this communication, he stated that the board was once again in agreement with his leadership. He expressed hope that much of the recent turmoil stemmed from misunderstandings, emphasizing his continued respect for the individuals involved in the dispute.
Mary Hubbard, the executive director of WordPress, confirmed Mullenweg’s return to the CEO role in a post on X, which was shared by the official WordPress account and reposted by Mullenweg himself. This public confirmation helped clarify the status of leadership after days of conflicting information circulating among employees and observers.
The internal dynamics of the resolution appear to have involved significant administrative changes. TechCrunch reported that Davies’ Slack account has been deactivated, suggesting a removal from active operational roles. Additionally, Mullenweg reportedly removed all administrators from Automattic’s Slack channels, effectively resetting the communication hierarchy within the company. These actions underscore the severity of the internal conflict and the decisive steps taken to restore order.
Mullenweg addressed the incident publicly with characteristic candor, posting on X that frequent leadership challenges are a sign of hiring strong leaders. He remarked that this event might have been his fifth such attempt at a coup, framing the disruption as a normal part of organizational growth rather than a catastrophic failure. This perspective aims to normalize the conflict and reduce anxiety among stakeholders.
Automattic, which owns popular platforms including WordPress.com, Tumblr, and Beeper, did not immediately respond to requests for further comment from The Verge regarding the specifics of the board’s decision-making process or the nature of the disagreement with Davies. The lack of detailed explanation leaves some questions about the underlying causes of the conflict unanswered.
In a separate development, Mullenweg published a blog post titled Major Life Announcement, detailing an offer to purchase a houseboat. This personal update, released alongside the professional news, highlights his attempt to move forward both personally and professionally after the brief leadership crisis. The juxtaposition of corporate turmoil with personal milestones reflects the complex nature of high-profile tech leadership.
The rapid resolution of this leadership dispute suggests that while tensions exist within Automattic’s governance structure, they can be managed without long-term disruption to the company’s operations. Stakeholders will likely watch closely to see if similar conflicts arise in the future and how the board and executive team navigate such challenges going forward.
As Automattic moves past this incident, the focus returns to its core products and services. The stability of WordPress and other platforms remains crucial for millions of users worldwide. The swift restoration of Mullenweg’s role indicates a commitment to maintaining continuity in leadership, even amidst internal disagreements.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Verge↗Matt Mullenweg returns as Automattic CEO two days after getting booted
