Matt Mullenweg, founder of Automattic, has reportedly been reinstated as CEO of the company just two days after being placed on a paid leave of absence. This development was shared via a Slack message seen by TechCrunch and confirmed by WordPress Executive Director Mary Hubbard in a post on X.
Hubbard expressed relief and confidence in Mullenweg's return, stating, "Having WordPress's Co-founder and Project Lead at the helm gives me confidence that their support will remain strong. Matt has my support."
Previously, 404 Media reported that Mullenweg had informed staff that CFO Mark Davies had conspired with the board of directors, leading to his leave. Mullenweg stated he voted against this decision and that the board had appointed Davies as interim CEO. An Automattic spokesperson had confirmed Mullenweg's leave and Davies' interim role to The Verge.
However, in the message viewed by TechCrunch, Mullenweg indicated that the board has reached an agreement and he is "in control of Automattic." He acknowledged the events of the past 48 hours and expressed hope that much of it was a misunderstanding, given his respect for those involved.
