Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Tumblr, has initiated a round of staff layoffs. According to internal reports, the company expects further workforce reductions in the coming months.
The recent cuts have affected employees across the communications and social media teams, as well as staff within the WordPress.com and VIP enterprise divisions. Marketing and product departments have also seen departures throughout October.
These layoffs follow a period of significant corporate instability at Automattic. In September, the board attempted to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg, which resulted in a complete turnover of the board and the departure of several key executives, including the CFO, interim CFO, and Chief Legal Officer.
The company currently lists 1,397 employees on its website. Insiders suggest that the ongoing layoffs are intended to bolster Q4 revenue figures in preparation for debt renegotiations scheduled for June.
CEO Matt Mullenweg stated that the number of terminations remains within normal ranges. When asked about the total number of affected staff, Mullenweg declined to provide specific figures, noting that his current focus is on addressing PHP security issues.
