Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and other brands like Tumblr and WooCommerce, has placed its founder and CEO, Matt Mullenweg, on a paid leave of absence. The move was confirmed in a Slack message from Mullenweg himself, who said the decision was made by the board without his agreement. CFO Mark Davies has been named interim CEO.
Mullenweg indicated in his message that the board members involved in the decision included Davies, Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker. He expressed frustration that he was given only 50 minutes to review the resolution and was denied additional time to consult legal counsel.
Despite the leadership change at Automattic, the open-source WordPress.org project remains unaffected. Mary Hubbard, executive director of WordPress.org, reassured the community that Mullenweg continues to lead the project and that work will proceed as planned.
Automattic has faced several challenges in recent years, including a legal battle with WP Engine, a WordPress hosting competitor. The dispute centers on royalty claims and allegations of defamation and abuse of power. Additionally, internal tensions have led to significant employee departures, with 159 staff members leaving after being encouraged to quit if they disagreed with Mullenweg's leadership.
The company also underwent a 16% workforce reduction earlier this year, affecting some long-term employees. Reactions among current and former employees to Mullenweg's leave have been mixed, with some expressing relief and others concerned about increased instability.
The board has not publicly explained the timing or reasons for placing Mullenweg on leave. Speculation suggests it may relate to his recent attendance at the Burning Man festival, after which he is known to return with new ideas. Mullenweg has not provided a public comment on the situation.