{
  "id": 6767261,
  "title": "Matt Mullenweg tells Automattic staff in Slack he’s back in control after CEO ouster",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/matt-mullenweg-tells-automattic-staff-in-slack-hes-back-in-control",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-11T15:19:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/11/matt-mullenweg-tells-automattic-staff-in-slack-hes-back-in-control-after-ceo-ouster/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg has announced via Slack that he is back in control of the company following a recent board decision. The WordPress.com parent company's board had previously voted to put Mullenweg on paid leave of absence and appoint CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. In his message, Mullenweg claimed that the board members had \"conspired\" behind his back to oust him, but added that the board is now \"back in agreement\" and he is in control again. He expressed hope that the recent events were a misunderstanding, given his respect for the board members involved. However, Automattic has not yet confirmed the validity of Mullenweg's statement. Mullenweg also deactivated Davies' Slack account and made a series of odd posts, including a reference to a pirate persona and profanity, which contradicts Mullenweg's known demeanor of not cursing. As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear whether Mullenweg is deliberately stirring controversy or if genuine changes have taken place within the company.",
  "summary": "In a Slack message seen by TechCrunch, Matt Mullenweg told Automattic employees he’s back in control of the company, days after its board put him on leave. Automattic has not yet confirmed the apparent reversal.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "404 Media",
        "title": "Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg Put on 'Leave of Absence'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/automattic-ceo-matt-mullenweg-put-on-leave-of-absence",
        "published": "2026-09-09T21:21:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Verge",
        "title": "Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg placed on leave",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/automattic-ceo-matt-mullenweg-placed-on-leave",
        "published": "2026-09-09T22:15:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TechCrunch",
        "title": "Automattic’s board forces CEO Matt Mullenweg into leave of absence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/automattics-board-forces-ceo-matt-mullenweg-into-leave-of-absence",
        "published": "2026-09-09T23:14:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TechRadar",
        "title": "Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg 'forced' into leave of absence by WordPress parent company board",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/automattic-ceo-matt-mullenweg-forced-into-leave-of-absence-by",
        "published": "2026-09-10T12:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Slashdot",
        "title": "Automattic's Board Forces CEO Matt Mullenweg Into Leave of Absence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/automattics-board-forces-ceo-matt-mullenweg-into-leave-of-absence",
        "published": "2026-09-10T17:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}