After a tumultuous week, which saw WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg ousted from his position as CEO of Automattic, WordPress.com’s parent company, by way of a board vote, the company has now issued a statement confirming that Mullenweg has returned to his position.
“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,” a company spokesperson shared with TechCrunch via email just after 5 PM ET on Saturday evening. (The mention of online support appears to refer to supportive posts on X that Mullenweg has been reposting from his X account.)
Automattic’s board had voted earlier this week to put Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence for unknown reasons. The move seemingly came as a surprise to Mullenweg, who posted on Automattic’s Slack, accusing the board members of “conspiring” against him.
Automattic confirmed Mullenweg’s removal to TechCrunch on Wednesday, saying that Mullenweg was “currently on leave” and that Automattic’s Chief Financial Officer, Mark Davies, would lead as interim CEO with “full confidence” of the board.
However, the board’s plan did not go smoothly. Seemingly declining to depart, Mullenweg booted other admins out of the company Slack and told employees everything had been worked out and that he was back in control of Automattic, multiple sources told TechCrunch. At one point, he also posted to Slack, “I’m a pirate now” and cursed, which is something Mullenweg famously did not do. “If this is an HR problem, please wrangle me in since my normal wranglers are with Mark Davies,” he wrote.
When TechCrunch asked Mullenweg if his comments about being back as CEO were legitimate, he promised a blog post was coming. When it arrived, however, it was about him buying a houseboat. When we asked if his comments about being back were also him trolling, he replied, “I’m not a troll I’m a pirate, obviously.” Mullenweg never provided any official comment about his return, but noted on X that this was likely the fifth time he’s faced a “coup.”
Automattic also did not respond to repeated requests for comment on Friday, nor to reports we heard about board member Toni Schneider stepping down. Schneider, a founding CEO of Automattic, now leads Bluesky. He did not return requests for comment at his personal email or via requests sent to Bluesky.
We have since asked Automattic again about this and other changes to the board’s composition, which we’re hearing still may be in flux.
Key Takeaways
- Dramatic Reversal:WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg was briefly ousted as Automattic CEO by a board vote, only to be reinstated within days following an extraordinary internal power struggle.
- “Pirate” Counter-Coup:Mullenweg defied the board’s decision by reasserting control over company communications, booting other admins from Slack, and declaring himself back in charge with a rebellious “I’m a pirate now” message.
- Lingering Questions:The initial reasons for Mullenweg’s removal remain undisclosed, and reports of board member resignations suggest ongoing instability and unresolved issues within Automattic’s leadership.
The corporate world thrives on order and carefully orchestrated transitions, yet the past week at Automattic, the parent company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, and more, defied all conventional expectations. What began as a surprising announcement of WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg’s removal from his CEO position by the company’s board quickly spiraled into a chaotic, unprecedented internal battle, culminating in his swift return and leaving a trail of unanswered questions about the future of one of the internet’s foundational companies.
The Board’s Unannounced Strike: A Founder Ousted
The drama began discreetly, then erupted into public view mid-week. Automattic’s board of directors, for reasons that remain shrouded in secrecy, voted to place Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence. This move, which effectively removed the visionary founder from the helm of the company he built, sent ripples of shock through Automattic’s internal ranks and the broader tech community. Mullenweg himself appeared taken aback, reportedly posting to the company’s internal Slack channels, accusing board members of “conspiring” against him. The lack of clarity around the board’s decision only fueled speculation, creating a vacuum that would soon be filled with high-stakes internal maneuvering.
On Wednesday, Automattic officially confirmed Mullenweg’s temporary departure to TechCrunch, stating that he was “currently on leave.” In a bid to reassure stakeholders and maintain stability, the company announced that Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies would step in as interim CEO, leading the company with the “full confidence” of the board. This announcement suggested a smooth, albeit unexpected, leadership transition, yet the unfolding events proved to be anything but.
The “Pirate” Counter-Coup: Mullenweg Reasserts Control
The board’s plan for a seamless transition, however, quickly encountered an insurmountable obstacle: Matt Mullenweg himself. Far from quietly accepting a leave of absence, Mullenweg reportedly refused to relinquish control. Multiple sources indicated that he swiftly moved to boot other administrators from Automattic’s company Slack, effectively taking back command of a crucial internal communication channel. He then informed employees that “everything had been worked out” and that he was back in control. This audacious display of defiance was punctuated by a particularly memorable Slack post: “I’m a pirate now,” a phrase followed by uncharacteristic cursing—a stark departure from Mullenweg’s usual public persona. He even quipped, “If this is an HR problem, please wrangle me in since my normal wranglers are with Mark Davies,” underscoring the bizarre and unprecedented nature of the internal conflict.
Mullenweg’s actions were not merely symbolic; they represented a direct challenge to the authority of Automattic’s board and the interim leadership. His refusal to cede power, coupled with his public and somewhat playful rebellion, signaled a founder deeply entrenched and unwilling to be easily displaced. When TechCrunch sought clarification on his claims of being back in charge, Mullenweg’s responses remained evasive and tinged with his characteristic brand of quirky humor. He promised a blog post, which, upon arrival, detailed his purchase of a houseboat rather than any official statement on Automattic’s leadership. When pressed further on whether his comments were merely “trolling,” he retorted, “I’m not a troll I’m a pirate, obviously.” Adding to the mystique, he later commented on X that this was likely the “fifth time he’s faced a ‘coup’,” suggesting a history of internal power struggles within Automattic.
The Board’s Retreat and Lingering Instability
The intense pressure, internal discord, and Mullenweg’s steadfast refusal to comply seemingly forced the board’s hand. By Saturday evening, just days after the initial ousting, Automattic issued a statement confirming Mullenweg’s return. “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,” a company spokesperson informed TechCrunch. The mention of “online support” appeared to reference a flurry of supportive posts on X that Mullenweg had been reposting, indicating a strong internal and external backing that likely contributed to the board’s reversal.
Despite the official confirmation of his return, the episode leaves a myriad of critical questions unanswered. The “unknown reasons” for the initial board vote remain a mystery. Was it a disagreement over company strategy, governance, or personal conduct? What factors ultimately led the board to reverse its decision so abruptly, especially after publicly expressing “full confidence” in Mark Davies? The speed and drama of the events suggest deep-seated issues that are unlikely to have been fully resolved by a mere reversal.
Adding another layer of complexity, reports surfaced that Toni Schneider, a founding CEO of Automattic and now leading Bluesky, had stepped down from the board. Automattic did not respond to requests for comment regarding Schneider’s reported departure or broader changes to the board’s composition, which sources suggest “still may be in flux.” Such resignations, especially from a co-founder, indicate potential ongoing discord that extends beyond Mullenweg’s immediate reinstatement. The full scope of the fallout from this extraordinary week, and the long-term implications for Automattic’s governance and leadership stability, are yet to be seen.
Bottom Line
The dramatic events at Automattic, from the abrupt board-led ousting of founder Matt Mullenweg to his defiant “pirate” return, paint a vivid picture of a company navigating intense internal power dynamics. While Mullenweg has officially regained his titles, the undisclosed reasons for his initial removal and the reported shifts in board composition highlight deep fissures that are unlikely to have healed completely. This saga underscores the unique challenges of corporate governance in founder-led tech companies and suggests that the ripples of this extraordinary week will continue to influence Automattic’s strategic direction and leadership stability for the foreseeable future.
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