What happened
On Sep 9 Automattic's board voted 4-1 to put CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave and named CFO Mark Davies interim CEO, after giving him about 50 minutes notice.
Automattic's board voted 4-1 on September 9, 2026 to place CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave against his will, naming CFO Mark Davies interim CEO after about 50 minutes notice.
Mullenweg told staff September 11 he was back in control, and Automattic confirmed his return September 12, saying he was away for only 33 hours and 20 minutes.
On September 14 TechCrunch reported, citing sources, that directors Toni Schneider, Sue Decker and Gen. Ann Dunwoody who backed the leave have been removed, and CLO Andy Missan has also left.
The shakeup lands amid Automattic's ongoing lawsuit with WP Engine and comes with word a new board could be announced as soon as September 15.
Timeline
From ouster vote to return in 3 days.
- Sep 9 — Board votes 4-1 to put Mullenweg on paid leave, names CFO Mark Davies interim CEO.
- Sep 11 — Mullenweg posts in Slack: back in agreement and in control of Automattic.
- Sep 12 — Automattic confirms return just after 5 PM ET with full board support.
- Sep 14 — TechCrunch sources say Schneider, Decker, Dunwoody and CLO Andy Missan are out.
What Next
Sources tell TechCrunch a new board could be announced as soon as Monday Sep 15, while WP Engine litigation continues to add pressure.
Why it matters for me
Mullenweg returned Sep 11-12 after 33h 20m away, and sources say the three directors who voted for his ouster plus the CLO have now departed.
Work
Wordpress Community · Tech Industry Insiders
WordPress community faces leadership churn at Automattic, but WordPress.org governance was reportedly unaffected.
Money
Software Founders Executives
Investors and partners watch for board stability as Automattic navigates ongoing WP Engine litigation.
Daily Life
General Public
For 40% of the web running on WordPress, a quick CEO return limits immediate product disruption.
What to remember
The coup lasted a day and a half — then the board flipped.
Automattic's board tried to oust Matt Mullenweg for 33 hours. Sources say the board is now out instead.
Verified sources (5)
Sources say Automattic's board is out after failed attempt to oust CEO Matt Mullenweg
↗Automattic confirms Mullenweg has returned as CEO after attempted ouster by board
↗Automattic says Mullenweg is CEO again, three days after removing him
↗Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg reinstated after brief ousting
↗Automattic board reportedly exits after Matt Mullenweg returns as CEO
↗Claims and linked sources
6 claimsAutomattic's board voted 4-1 on September 9, 2026 to place Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence against his will and named CFO Mark Davies interim CEO.
Mullenweg was given about 50 minutes notice of the resolution and his request for time to have it reviewed by independent counsel was denied before the vote.
On September 11 Mullenweg posted in company Slack that he was back in control, and Automattic confirmed his return as CEO on September 12 just after 5 PM ET.
Sources told TechCrunch that directors Toni Schneider, Sue Decker and Gen. Ann Dunwoody who voted for the leave have now been removed from the board.
Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan also departed Automattic as of September 2026, updating his LinkedIn to reflect the exit.
Automattic spokesperson said Mullenweg was away for only 33 hours and 20 minutes and described the episode as now back to work.