In a surprising turn of events, Matt Mullenweg, the founder and CEO of Automattic, has been placed on a paid leave of absence by the company’s board, as revealed in a Slack message reviewed by TechCrunch. Mullenweg disclosed that the decision was made without his consent, citing a conspiracy involving Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies and board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker.
In his message, Mullenweg stated, “Mark Davies has conspired with Ann Dunwoody, Toni, and Sue Decker behind my back and they voted to put me on a paid leave of absence. I voted against that.” He expressed his discontent over the timing of the resolution, which he received shortly before a scheduled meeting, and indicated that he had sought legal counsel to review the decision, a request that was denied.
Board’s Confirmation and Interim Leadership
The board’s decision was confirmed by an email from Automattic, which stated, “Matt Mullenweg is currently on leave from Automattic. Mark Davies, Automattic’s CFO, will lead the company as interim CEO. The Board has full confidence in Mark’s leadership and in the team’s ability to execute against the company’s priorities.” Mullenweg remains a member of the board of directors.
Impact on WordPress Project
Despite Mullenweg’s leave from Automattic, the executive director of the WordPress.org project, Mary Hubbard, confirmed that Mullenweg will continue to lead the WordPress project, indicating that the core operations of WordPress.org will remain unaffected. Hubbard reassured the community that their teams and priorities would continue as planned.
Context of Tensions and Legal Issues
This development comes amid ongoing tensions within Automattic and a backdrop of legal disputes. The company is currently engaged in a legal battle with WP Engine, a competitor, over allegations of profiting from the open-source WordPress project without adequate contributions. Mullenweg has previously made contentious demands regarding royalty fees from WP Engine, which has led to a counter-suit against Automattic.
Under Mullenweg’s leadership, Automattic has faced significant challenges, including a notable staff reduction of 16% last year and internal conflicts that prompted him to suggest employees resign if they disagreed with him. The recent board decision has elicited mixed reactions among employees, with some expressing relief while others are concerned about the instability it may introduce.
Unclear Motivations for Board Action
The precise motivations behind the board’s decision to place Mullenweg on leave remain unspecified. Speculation has arisen regarding the timing, particularly in relation to Mullenweg’s recent attendance at the Burning Man festival, which he traditionally attends and returns from with new ideas. However, no direct connection has been confirmed.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
