Automattic Board Places Founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on Leave

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-09-10

The company's chief financial officer will step into the interim leadership role as board members place founder Matt Mullenweg on leave.

Automattic's board of directors has placed founder and Chief Executive Officer Matt Mullenweg on an executive leave of absence, removing him from daily management of the web publishing platform operator. The company's chief financial officer has been appointed to serve as interim chief executive officer, taking over corporate operations effective immediately.

Following the formal announcement, Mullenweg publicly pushed back against the board's action, alleging that company directors coordinated a campaign to strip him of operational control. The board of directors has not yet released specific details regarding the motives or internal findings that prompted the forced leave.

Automattic did not specify how long the executive leave is expected to last, nor did it clarify whether a search for a permanent chief executive officer is underway. Company officials stated that daily business operations across all software divisions will proceed without interruption under the interim leadership team.

Founded in 2005, Automattic operates major web infrastructure and digital publishing platforms, including WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, and Pocket Casts. The company has grown into one of the largest privately held software entities operating in the global web publishing and management sector.

The sudden leadership transition comes during a period of increased scrutiny surrounding corporate governance and software licensing disputes within the company's broader commercial ecosystem. Board members and company representatives declined to comment further on internal governance matters or potential changes to operational strategy.