Sources say Automattic’s board is out after failed attempt to oust CEO Matt Mullenweg
Automattic’s board is out, days after its members voted to put chief executive Matt Mullenweg on leave, sources tell TechCrunch.
The board of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce, has resigned en masse following a failed attempt to oust CEO Matt Mullenweg, according to multiple sources speaking to TechCrunch. Mullenweg accused the board of conspiring against him after the failed vote, which involved putting him on a paid leave of absence.
Mullenweg reinstated himself as CEO via Slack post and Automattic confirmed his return on Saturday. Toni Schneider, a founding CEO of Automattic, resigned from the board, and also removed two other board members, Sue Decker and Gen. Ann Dunwoody. Decker's LinkedIn profile still lists her as having served on the board until September 2026.
Automattic declined to name the specific individuals who left but expressed gratitude for their contributions. Mullenweg's return to his position as CEO was met with "full support of the board," according to a statement from Automattic. The reason for the board's original vote remains unclear. The company is involved in a high-profile lawsuit with WP Engine, accusing them of infringing on the WordPress trademark and failing to contribute sufficiently to open source development.
WP Engine responded by alleging Automattic planned to target competitors with royalty fees and accused Mullenweg of destroying evidence related to the case. Mullenweg had previously deactivated accounts of several WordPress contributors over alleged plans to fork the open source software.
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