Automattic has appointed Jeremy Klaperman, CFO of its WordPress VIP Enterprise unit, as interim Chief Financial Officer following the departure of former CFO Mark Davies. The move comes after a failed attempt to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg last week, which led to the exit of several board members and executives, including Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan. Mullenweg also said a new Chief Legal Officer candidate has verbally accepted the role, while the board still must formally evaluate CFO candidates.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-18
Following an Anthropic researcher's warning about AI risks, CEO Dario Amodei proposed a framework for AI labs to coordinate development speed through independent safety evaluators, particularly among companies in democratic nations. The idea has drawn some support but also criticism, notably from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who pushed back on the approach.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-18
During a 33-hour period when Matt Mullenweg was placed on leave by Automattic's board, interim CEO Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan each approved the other's exit agreement. The deals grant both executives a year of salary, accelerated equity vesting, stock option exercise rights, and extended health coverage, totaling roughly $8.15 million combined. Mullenweg fired both men upon reclaiming his role, and Automattic is now weighing whether to honor or legally contest the payouts.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-16
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.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-14
Automattic confirmed that Matt Mullenweg has resumed his position as CEO and chairman with the board's backing, days after the board had voted to place him on leave and install CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. Mullenweg had resisted the removal, taking control of the company's Slack, ejecting other admins, and publicly disputing the board's authority before the company's statement settled the matter in his favor.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-12
Less than two days after Automattic's board placed Matt Mullenweg on leave, he told staff on Slack that he was back in charge and that the board was again aligned with him. CFO Mark Davies, who had been named interim CEO, reportedly had his Slack account deactivated, while Mullenweg posted cryptic references including a LL Cool J video and a personal blog post about buying a tugboat that avoided addressing the leadership turmoil directly.
slashdot.org
· 2026-09-12
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.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-11
Matt Mullenweg says he has resumed his role as Automattic CEO just two days after the company's board placed him on paid leave and named CFO Mark Davies interim chief. Mullenweg claims the board is now 'back in agreement' with him in control, and reports indicate Davies' Slack account was deactivated while other admin accounts were stripped of access.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-11
Automattic's board voted to place founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave against his wishes, installing CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. Mullenweg publicly objected in a company Slack channel, saying the board acted without giving him time to consult legal counsel. The exact reason for the ouster hasn't been disclosed, though it comes after years of legal disputes, layoffs and staff departures tied to his leadership.
slashdot.org
· 2026-09-10
Automattic's board voted to place founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave, a move he says was orchestrated behind his back by CFO Mark Davies alongside board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker. Davies has been named interim CEO, though Mullenweg reportedly remains on the board. WordPress.org's executive director Mary Hubbard says the open-source project itself is unaffected and Mullenweg still leads it.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-09
Automattic's board voted to place founder Matt Mullenweg on paid leave and name CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO, a move Mullenweg says he opposed and learned of only shortly before the vote. Board member Toni Schneider confirmed the decision, saying Mullenweg was asked to step away while Davies takes over daily leadership, though Mullenweg retains a board seat.
404media.co
· 2026-09-09
Automattic's board has voted to put founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave, installing CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. Mullenweg says he opposed the move and accused Davies of conspiring with board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker to sideline him, though he will stay on the board.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-09
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