Automattic has a new board after failed attempt to put CEO on leave
After days of upheaval at Automattic, following a failed attempt to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg, the company has a new board.
Automattic, the parent company behind WordPress.com, Tumblr, and WooCommerce, has unveiled a new board after its previous directors attempted and failed to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg. The newly announced board, comprised of an eclectic mix of individuals, includes a bestselling science fiction author and two former co-founders of the now-defunct social app IRL, which later shut down due to bot user base investigations.
Mullenweg, who controls 84% of the company’s voting shares, leveraged his power to reverse the attempted firing by taking control of the company just 33 hours after the board's decision. The new board also includes advisers from Curio Studio, June, and KISSmetrics, among others. Automattic's original board voted to place Mullenweg on paid leave, but he swiftly counteracted this move and reclaimed control.
Following the board's failure, several members, including founding CEO Toni Schneider and General Ann Dunwoody, resigned. Mullenweg also replaced his legal counsel after his return, a decision that may be linked to the company's ongoing lawsuit with WP Engine over trademark disputes and allegations of destroying evidence.
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