The board of directors at Automattic has placed founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence. Mullenweg stated that the decision was made by CFO Mark Davies alongside board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker. Davies has been appointed as the interim CEO of the company.
Mullenweg reported that he received the resolution 50 minutes before the board meeting and was denied a request for additional time to consult with legal counsel. Despite his removal from the CEO role, he remains a member of the board of directors. Automattic confirmed the leave of absence in an official statement.
Mary Hubbard, executive director of WordPress.org, stated that the status change at the commercial entity Automattic does not impact the open-source WordPress project. She confirmed that Mullenweg continues to lead the project and that operations remain unchanged.
Automattic has faced significant internal and external challenges, including a legal dispute with WP Engine that began in October 2024. In April 2025, the company reduced its workforce by 16%. Additionally, in 2024, 159 employees resigned after Mullenweg offered severance to those who disagreed with his leadership.
