GoKawiilAutomattic's entire board departs days after failed bid to oust CEO Mullenweg
Sources tell TechCrunch that Automattic's board has been dissolved following a failed attempt last week to place CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave. Founding CEO Toni Schneider reportedly resigned his board seat, while Mullenweg removed remaining members Sue Decker and Gen. Ann Dunwoody. Automattic has not confirmed specifics but acknowledged in a statement that people have left the company.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This power struggle highlights the fragility of governance at Automattic, a major force behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce, and raises questions about checks on Mullenweg's authority going forward. With the board wiped out rather than reformed, Mullenweg appears to have consolidated control entirely, a notable shift for a company with such broad influence over the open web.
- Automattic's board members have all departed after a failed attempt to sideline CEO Matt Mullenweg.
- Founding CEO Toni Schneider reportedly resigned, while Mullenweg removed two other directors.
- Automattic has not confirmed details publicly, leaving governance structure unclear.
Source: techcrunch.com — Sarah Perez, 2026-09-14
Published there as: “Sources say Automattic’s board is out after failed attempt to oust CEO Matt Mullenweg”
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