Automattic board places Matt Mullenweg on leave
Automattic’s board placed chief executive and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg on paid leave and named finance chief Mark Davies interim CEO. Mullenweg told employees the move was against his will and alleged Davies conspired with board members. The RSS reports do not state the board’s reasons, duration of leave or formal response to his claim.
Why it matters
The forced leadership change creates uncertainty at the company behind WordPress.com and other major web services.
Sources
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Part of the September 10, 2026 brief.