Matt Mullenweg, the founder and CEO of Automattic, has been placed on a leave of absence by the company's board, according to a Slack message reviewed by TechCrunch. Mullenweg stated in the message that the board, including Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies and board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker, voted to put him on paid leave without his consent. He expressed his concerns about the decision and mentioned that he was not given adequate time to consult with independent legal counsel before the vote occurred.
Mary Hubbard, the executive director of WordPress.org, confirmed Mullenweg's leave in a message to the open-source community, stating that the leadership of WordPress.org remains unchanged and that their work will continue as planned. Sources indicated that the board's action was confirmed by Schneider, who previously served as CEO of Automattic from 2006 to 2014. Davies informed employees that Mullenweg would remain on the board of directors.
Automattic issued a statement confirming that Mullenweg is on leave and that Davies will serve as interim CEO. The board expressed confidence in Davies' leadership and the company's ability to meet its priorities.
Automattic, founded by Mullenweg in 2003, is known for its ownership of WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce, and Pocket Casts. The company has faced legal challenges, including a lawsuit from WP Engine, which accused Mullenweg and Automattic of defamation and abuse of power. Tensions within the company have been noted, with Mullenweg previously suggesting that employees who disagreed with him could leave with severance, leading to the departure of 159 employees.
In April 2025, Automattic laid off 16% of its workforce, impacting long-term employees. Reactions among current employees to Mullenweg's leave have varied, with some expressing relief while others noted concerns about instability. Speculation exists regarding the timing of the board's decision, with some suggesting it may relate to Mullenweg's recent attendance at the Burning Man festival, which concluded on September 7. Mullenweg has not yet responded to requests for comment.