{
  "id": 7952408,
  "title": "Docs: Automattic interim CEO Mark Davies and CLO Andy Missan signed each other's severance packages worth $8.15M during Matt Mullenweg's brief ouster as CEO (Sarah Perez/TechCrunch)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/docs-automattic-interim-ceo-mark-davies-and-clo-andy-missan-signed",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-17T05:01:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Techmeme",
    "slug": "techmeme",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/16/automattics-interim-ceo-and-legal-chief-signed-reciprocal-severance-deals-during-mullenwegs-brief-ouster/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Automattic's CEO Matt Mullenweg was put on paid leave by the company's board on September 9, a decision that has not been publicly explained. According to TechCrunch, Mullenweg was given only 50 minutes' notice and was denied time to have the resolution reviewed by outside legal counsel. He accused CFO Mark Davies of conspiring with three board members behind his back to force the vote through.\n\nMullenweg returned to his role roughly 33 hours later, and the same board members who voted him out have since departed the company. During his brief absence, Davies, who became interim CEO, and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan signed off on generous exit packages for each other, effective September 10. These packages, worth $8.15 million, include 12 months of base salary paid out as a lump sum, accelerated vesting of equity, and another year of health coverage.\n\nThe circumstances behind Mullenweg's leave and return remain unclear, with Automattic declining to explain what changed between the initial decision and Mullenweg's return. According to The New Stack, Mullenweg has received support from top executives and Automatticians, with director of communications Megan Fox stating that Mullenweg is the chairman and CEO of Automattic, with full support of the board.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TechCrunch",
        "title": "Automattic’s interim CEO and legal chief signed reciprocal severance deals during Mullenweg’s brief ouster",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/automattics-interim-ceo-and-legal-chief-signed-reciprocal-severance",
        "published": "2026-09-16T19:35:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The New Stack",
        "title": "Automattic says CEO Mullenweg was gone and back inside 33 hours. What happened between?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/automattic-says-ceo-mullenweg-was-gone-and-back-inside-33-hours-what",
        "published": "2026-09-16T20:39:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}