GoKawiilMullenweg claims reinstatement as Automattic CEO days after board ouster
Matt Mullenweg told Automattic staff on Slack that he is back in control as CEO, just days after the board had voted to place him on leave and install CFO Mark Davies as interim chief. Davies' Slack account has reportedly been deactivated, but Automattic has not confirmed Mullenweg's claim, and Mullenweg says a formal blog post explaining the situation is coming.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The chaotic back-and-forth signals unusual instability at the top of a major open-source-linked company that controls WordPress.com and Tumblr, raising questions about governance and board authority. Mullenweg's erratic recent behavior, including admin removals and a bizarre 'pirate' post, makes it unclear whether this is a genuine power struggle or a stunt, leaving employees and users uncertain about leadership legitimacy.
- Mullenweg claims he's regained control as CEO just days after being ousted by Automattic's board.
- Interim CEO Mark Davies' Slack account was reportedly deactivated amid the dispute.
- Automattic has not confirmed the claim, and a formal statement from Mullenweg is still pending.
WordPress: The Missing Manual" by Matthew MacDonald — If Automattic boardroom drama has you curious about the platform at the center of it all, this hands-on guide walks you through building and running a WordPress site from scratch. It's a practical companion whether you're on WordPress.com or self-hosting, and a great way to understand the ecosystem Mullenweg built.
See WordPress: The Missing Manual" by Matthew MacDonald on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techcrunch.com — Sarah Perez, 2026-09-11
Published there as: “Matt Mullenweg tells Automattic staff in Slack he’s back in control after CEO ouster”
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