After a brief period away from his usual role, Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress, has returned as CEO and chairman of Automattic. The company’s board had placed him on paid leave, but as of late Saturday, an official statement confirmed his reinstatement, with support from both the board and industry peers.
This update concludes a dramatic week for Automattic, which operates WordPress.com. Throughout the crisis, the board stood by their ultimate decision to have Mullenweg resume control, as reflected in messages of encouragement from colleagues and leaders across the tech community.
Leadership Shakeup as Board Acts Unexpectedly
Earlier in the week, the Automattic board surprised many, including Mullenweg himself, by voting to put him on a paid leave of absence for reasons not shared publicly. In response, Mullenweg accused certain board members of conspiring against him via internal communications. During his absence, Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies assumed the role of interim CEO, receiving the board’s endorsement for this transitional appointment.
Even while on leave, sources reported that Mullenweg remained active in the company’s digital workspace. He allegedly removed other admin-level users from Automattic’s Slack and informed staff that operations were “back to normal,” indicating he had resumed his leadership. He used the phrase, “I’m a pirate now,” signaling a sharp shift in tone and temperament, and humorously mentioned that HR should step in if necessary since the regular handlers (“wranglers”) were not available.
Automattic Staff and Community Respond to Mullenweg’s Comeback
Confirmation of Mullenweg’s reinstatement came on Saturday evening, with Automattic’s spokesperson declaring: “Matt Mullenweg is the chairman and CEO of Automattic, with full support of the board and if you search online you can see many top executives and Automatticians supporting him as well.” Numerous messages backing Mullenweg from WordPress community members and employees had been posted to his X account (formerly Twitter).
Although reporters requested a direct comment about his return, Mullenweg did not issue an official statement. He hinted at publishing a blog post on the subject but instead released a personal update regarding his recent houseboat purchase. In subsequent comments, he asserted, “I’m not a troll I’m a pirate, obviously,” and he referenced this episode as what he believes is his fifth “coup,” as seen in his posts on X.
Changes to the Board Still Unclear
While Mullenweg’s leadership is restored, the structure of Automattic’s board remains unsettled. Reports have surfaced that Toni Schneider—the company’s original CEO and most recently interim CEO at Bluesky—might be preparing to leave his board position. Now heading Bluesky, Schneider did not reply for comment, and there is no official word yet from Automattic about possible shifts in board membership.
Automattic’s recent leadership events illustrate the governance and founder-related complexities prominent tech companies face. Matt Mullenweg is back at the top, but possible further board changes suggest the situation at Automattic is still evolving.