Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress.com and Automattic, has informed staff through a Slack message that he is back in control as CEO of the company. This announcement comes shortly after the board voted to place him on a paid leave of absence, appointing CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO.
Mullenweg’s initial removal from the CEO role was confirmed by an Automattic spokesperson, who acknowledged his leave and Davies’ interim position. However, in a message posted early Friday, Mullenweg stated that the board had reached a new agreement and that he had resumed leadership. He described recent events as possibly stemming from misunderstandings and expressed respect for those involved.
Despite Mullenweg’s claim, Automattic has not publicly confirmed the change. Reports indicate that Davies’ Slack account was deactivated, and Mullenweg took steps such as removing all Slack administrators. Some of his recent posts have been unusual, including references to being a “pirate” and sharing a music video, leading to uncertainty about the situation’s stability.
Following his removal, Mullenweg used social media to suggest ongoing conflicts involving Silver Lake, a private equity firm linked to WP Engine, which is currently in litigation with Automattic. He also sought assistance from sysadmins and security researchers to relocate some of his hosted assets.
The unfolding events highlight internal tensions at Automattic, a significant player in the open source and web hosting space, with potential implications for its leadership and strategic direction. The company has yet to provide an official update on the status of its CEO or board decisions.