Matt Mullenweg Regains CEO Role at Automattic After 33-Hour Board Ouster Attempt

Matt Mullenweg was away from his role as chairman and CEO of Automattic for exactly 33 hours and 20 minutes before the company confirmed his return to the position. The brief period of absence followed a tumultuous week in which the company's board voted to place Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence, an action he characterized as a conspiracy.

This image identifies Matt Mullenweg, the central figure of the corporate standoff and the subject of the article.

The Board's Attempted Ouster

The conflict began when Automattic's board voted to place Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence. Following this vote, the company announced that Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies would serve as interim CEO with the board's full confidence.

The move appeared to catch Mullenweg by surprise. He responded by posting on the company's internal Slack channel, accusing the board members of conspiring against him.

“Matt was away for only 33 hours and 20 minutes—we’re now back to work.”

— Automattic confirms Mullenweg has returned as CEO after attempted ouster by board | TechCrunch

Internal Friction and 'Pirate' Tactics

Mullenweg did not yield to the board's decision. According to multiple sources, he booted other administrators out of the company's Slack and informed employees that he had regained control of the organization.

During the standoff, Mullenweg posted that he was a 'pirate' and used profanity, behaviors that were noted as unusual for him. When asked by reporters if his claims of returning to the CEO role were legitimate, he initially promised a blog post, which ultimately detailed his purchase of a houseboat rather than a formal corporate statement.

Resolution and Current Status

The situation concluded with a formal statement from Automattic confirming that Mullenweg had returned to his role as chairman and CEO. The company stated that he had the full support of the board and the leadership team.

While the company remains excited about the future with Mullenweg at the helm, the specific details regarding the board's initial motivations or any remaining changes to the board's composition remain unclear.