Matt Mullenweg, founder of Automattic, has been removed as CEO by the company’s board, placed on paid leave, and replaced for now by Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies, who will serve as interim CEO. Both a company-wide memo and an official statement confirmed this internal reshuffle.
Earlier this week, a widespread Slack message to Automattic employees shared the news of Mullenweg’s abrupt exit. Mullenweg recounted that the board—comprising CFO Mark Davies, Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker—voted on the decision in spite of his objections. After the resolution was enacted, Davies stepped in as interim chief executive.
Automattic Shifts Leadership
In a public Slack notification, Mullenweg informed staff he was forced into paid leave following a board vote led by CFO Mark Davies along with Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker. As Mullenweg detailed, he was notified less than an hour before a set meeting and denied a request for time to obtain his own legal counsel.
After these actions, Davies circulated a message confirming that Mullenweg would continue as a board director. The company also issued an email statement formally naming Davies as interim CEO, expressing: “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.”
This board intervention did not affect Automattic’s open-source segment. Addressing the WordPress.org community, Mary Hubbard, executive director of the project, stated: “Matt remains the leader of the WordPress project and I remain Executive Director of WordPress. Our teams, priorities, and work continue as planned.”
Troubled Backdrop and Unknown Reasons
No detailed public explanation has yet been given regarding the board’s motives. Some believe the decision may be tied to Mullenweg’s recent return from the Burning Man festival, which traditionally concludes on September 7 and is often a time when he returns with fresh initiatives.
The timing of this change coincides with ongoing internal discord and external litigation for Automattic, well-known for its products like WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce, and Pocket Casts. Mullenweg started Automattic in 2003, following the co-founding of the open-source WordPress platform.
Recently, Automattic has found itself locked in a protracted legal battle with competitor WP Engine, which began after Mullenweg requested payment of 8% of WP Engine’s monthly gross revenue as a royalty for use of the WordPress brand. He accused WP Engine of unfairly profiting from WordPress without contributing to the broader community. The dispute escalated when, in October 2024, WP Engine sued, alleging defamation and abuse of power by Mullenweg and Automattic. Automattic responded with counterclaims during the previous year; then in February, WP Engine alleged that Automattic planned to pursue royalty fees from additional rivals.
Internal discord hit a high point in 2024, when Mullenweg invited employees unhappy with the company’s direction to accept severance; 159 staff members took this option. Mullenweg also threatened to disable the accounts of some WordPress.org contributors planning a fork of the open-source project. More recently, Automattic cut 16% of its workforce in April 2025, leading to the departure of numerous veteran employees.
Employee Reactions and Awaiting the Next Chapter
The news about Mullenweg’s removal has generated both optimism and apprehension among Automattic’s current staff. Some see the move as positive, while others fear further disruption. Former employees have reportedly reached out privately to gauge current workers’ sentiments about these rapid changes.
While the founder has yet to release a public statement concerning his removal, the future direction and leadership of both Automattic and the WordPress community remain uncertain as events continue to unfold.