Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg Put on 'Leave of Absence'
Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg has been placed on a paid leave of absence by the company's board of directors. CFO Mark Davies has been appointed as the interim CEO, a move Mullenweg claims was made without sufficient time for legal review.
Why it matters
Automattic is a major player in the internet infrastructure space as the owner of WordPress and Tumblr, making leadership instability a significant concern for the web ecosystem.
On a company-wide Slack this morning, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg announced he has been put on a paid leave of absence.
“And the biggest news: I won't be able to make the ELT tomorrow,” Matt wrote in an Announcement Slack. He continued, writing that Mark Davies, current Automattic Chief Financial Officer, has “conspired” with Automattic Board of Directors members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker “behind my back and they voted to put me on a paid leave of absence. I voted against that.”
He wrote that Davies was voted to be the new interim CEO. “I received the resolution 50 minutes before the meeting start, and requested repeatedly for time to have it reviewed by independent legal counsel, even a few hours, which was denied,” Mullenweg wrote.
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