● Covered by 3 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact1 negative2 neutral
Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg Placed on Paid Leave, Mark Davies Named Interim CEO
Key points
- Matt Mullenweg placed on paid leave of absence by Automattic board.
- Mark Davies, CFO, appointed interim CEO.
- Mullenweg stated the decision was made without his consent.
- Mullenweg remains a board member.
- Mullenweg claims Mark Davies conspired with Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker.
- Mullenweg was denied time to review the resolution with independent legal counsel.
Leadership Change at Automattic
Automattic CEO and founder Matt Mullenweg announced via a company-wide Slack message that he has been put on a paid leave of absence. He stated that the company's Board of Directors, including Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker, voted for this action, with CFO Mark Davies appointed as the interim CEO.
Mullenweg's Account of the Decision
Mullenweg reported that he received the resolution for his leave 50 minutes before the board meeting and was denied requests for legal review time. He voted against the decision. Mullenweg will remain a board member and will have a voice in setting direction and making decisions, according to Davies.
Interim CEO's Statement
Mark Davies, the new interim CEO, stated his intention to support Mullenweg, the board, Automattic, and its customers. He also indicated that no immediate changes are expected as a result of Mullenweg's leave. Toni Schneider, a board member, confirmed the board's decision and expressed confidence in Davies' ability to lead during this period.
Background and Context
Automattic owns several internet brands, including WordPress, Tumblr, and Pocket Casts. Mullenweg has faced controversies regarding his management in recent years, including a legal dispute with WP Engine and an "Alignment Offer" in 2024 that allowed employees to leave with six months' pay or $30,000 if they disagreed with his stances.
Updates
- Mullenweg claims Mark Davies conspired with Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker.
- Mullenweg was denied time to review the resolution with independent legal counsel.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Automattic's board of directors has placed founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence, appointing CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. This change impacts the leadership of Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, but does not affect the open-source WordPress.org project.
Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic (owner of WordPress.com), has been placed on a paid leave of absence, with CFO Mark Davies stepping in as interim CEO. Mullenweg claims the decision was a conspiracy by Davies and board members, while Automattic states the board has full confidence in Davies' leadership.
Automattic founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg was placed on a paid leave of absence by the company's board of directors. CFO Mark Davies has been appointed interim CEO, a decision Mullenweg stated was made without his consent and against his vote. This change in leadership affects Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, Tumblr, and Pocket Casts.