Automattic founder Matt Mullenweg announces return as CEO
Automattic founder Matt Mullenweg said he has resumed leading the company as CEO, two days after, according to 404 Media, the board voted to place him on paid leave. The Verge reports, citing a Slack message seen by TechCrunch.
Statement on the return
According to TechCrunch, Mullenweg wrote to employees that the board had reached an agreement again and that he is in control of Automattic. He noted that much had happened over the previous 48 hours that needed to be clarified, and expressed hope that a significant part of the situation had been a misunderstanding.
TechCrunch also reported that the Slack account of Chief Financial Officer Mark Davis was deactivated, while Mullenweg removed all administrators from the corporate Slack.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Leave and interim leader
Earlier, 404 Media reported that Mullenweg told employees about the board's decision to place him on paid leave. According to him, Davis had “conspired” with the board; Mullenweg himself said he voted against the decision.
According to 404 Media, the board also voted to appoint Davis as interim CEO, while Mullenweg was to remain a board member. An Automattic spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that at that time Mullenweg was on leave and Davis had been appointed acting CEO.
Automattic, which owns WordPress.com, Tumblr and Beeper, did not promptly provide The Verge with a comment on Mullenweg's new statement. On Friday, he wrote on X that he considered the events an attempted coup.
