After an unpredictable week that saw WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg temporarily removed from his post, parent company Automattic has officially confirmed his return as chairman and chief executive with the full backing of its board of directors.
The corporate standoff began when Automattic’s board voted to place Mullenweg on paid administrative leave, appointing Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies as interim CEO. Mullenweg swiftly pushed back against the decision via internal Slack channels, accusing board members of orchestrating the action behind his back without granting him sufficient time for independent legal review.
Rather than stepping aside, Mullenweg actively resisted the transition. According to company sources, he revoked administrator access for several key executives on internal communications platforms and announced directly to staff that he had reclaimed operational authority over the company. Amid the internal friction, Mullenweg publicly downplayed the dispute on social media, referring to the boardroom challenge as the fifth “coup attempt” of his career.
Automattic later issued a statement confirming that Mullenweg remains in full command as CEO. The official confirmation was accompanied by supportive statements from key community figures, including WordPress Executive Director Mary Hubbard, who welcomed his return to leadership.
Despite the resolution, the rapid succession of events highlights ongoing governance volatility and internal tension within Automattic, as questions remain regarding potential changes to the company’s board composition moving forward.
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