Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, has confirmed that Matt Mullenweg has returned to his position as CEO after a turbulent week marked by an attempted ouster. Earlier, the company's board voted to place Mullenweg on paid leave for undisclosed reasons, appointing Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies as interim CEO. This decision reportedly surprised Mullenweg, who accused board members of conspiring against him in internal communications.
Despite the board's move, Mullenweg resisted stepping down, regaining control of company communication channels and informing employees that he was back in charge. His return was accompanied by uncharacteristic behavior, including informal and candid messages to staff. While Mullenweg did not provide an official statement on his reinstatement, he acknowledged the ongoing internal strife and referenced previous similar challenges to his leadership.
Automattic has not publicly addressed changes in its board composition or the status of board member Toni Schneider, a founding CEO of Automattic who now leads Bluesky. The company’s spokesperson emphasized that Mullenweg has full board support and highlighted backing from other executives and employees. The episode underscores the complexities of leadership dynamics within tech companies and the challenges of governance in founder-led organizations.