Automattic Board Forces WordPress Co-Founder Matt Mullenweg Out in Governance Coup

On September 9, 2026, Automattic's board of directors forced Chief Executive Officer Matt Mullenweg into an involuntary leave of absence. Mullenweg, who co-founded the open-source publishing platform WordPress in 2003 and built Automattic into a multi-billion-dollar web technology giant, announced the board's decision to employees in an internal Slack message, explicitly clarifying that the corporate action was taken against his express will.

The sudden removal marks a historic rift in web technology governance. For over two decades, Mullenweg maintained near-singular control over Automattic—the commercial engine behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Tumblr—while simultaneously serving as the primary steward of WordPress.org, the open-source core powering roughly 43 percent of all active websites across the globe. That concentration of power unravelled inside Automattic’s internal communication channels on Tuesday night when Mullenweg delivered the news directly to his staff.

From Open-Source Steward to Boardroom Conflict

"The board has placed me on an involuntary leave of absence," Mullenweg wrote in a message posted to Automattic’s company-wide Slack platform. "To be completely clear, this was not my decision, nor do I believe this serves the long-term interests of Automattic or the broader open-source community. However, I am required to comply with the board's directive while legal counsel reviews the situation."

The forced leave follows intense friction between Mullenweg, institutional investors, and independent software developers. Conflict escalated dramatically during late 2024 when Mullenweg initiated an all-out public battle against WP Engine, a managed hosting platform backed by private equity firm Silver Lake. Mullenweg accused WP Engine of profiting off the open-source WordPress ecosystem while contributing negligible code back to the project, eventually revoking WP Engine's access to WordPress.org servers and initiating federal litigation in California.

While Mullenweg framed the crusade as a moral defense of open-source sustainability, major Automattic shareholders—including Insight Partners, Salesforce Ventures, and Tiger Global—grew increasingly uneasy with the unpredictable fallout. The public spats triggered mass employee resignations under buy-out packages, created unprecedented instability for web developers, and exposed Automattic to significant legal liabilities.

The Dual-Role Dilemma in Web Infrastructure

At the center of Automattic’s governance crisis lies an structural contradiction that defined the company for twenty years. Automattic is a venture-backed, for-profit corporation valued at over $7.5 billion, yet its primary software asset—WordPress—is an open-source public good maintained by an independent non-profit foundation.

Mullenweg operated simultaneously as the CEO of Automattic and the self-described "Benevolent Dictator for Life" (BDFL) of the open-source project. When commercial disputes arose, those lines blurred. During the 2024 WP Engine dispute, Mullenweg utilized controls over WordPress.org—a platform nominally distinct from Automattic—to block third-party plugins and enterprise software extensions. Venture capital partners on Automattic’s board faced mounting pushback from enterprise clients who voiced security and operational concerns regarding single-executive domain control over web infrastructure.

The economic stakes stretch far beyond Silicon Valley boardroom politics. Millions of businesses, media publishing houses, and e-commerce stores rely on WordPress to conduct daily transactions. When an executive wielding control over core digital infrastructure enters a high-stakes standoff with institutional investors, the underlying software distribution network suffers technical volatility.

Corporate Restructuring and Immediate Leadership Shifts

Automattic’s board has not yet named a permanent successor or publicly detailed the duration of Mullenweg’s forced departure. Company operations have temporarily transitioned to an executive committee led by veteran chief operating officers and senior division heads across WooCommerce and WordPress.com.

The institutional intervention signals a potential pivot toward conventional corporate governance inside Automattic. Venture capital backers seek to stabilize corporate partnerships, resolve pending intellectual property lawsuits, and reassure enterprise clients who migrated away from WordPress products during recent public controversies.

For open-source developers and digital publishers worldwide, Mullenweg’s forced leave fundamentally challenges the long-held assumption that original founders retain permanent authority over open-source empires once corporate capital takes hold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Matt Mullenweg forced into a leave of absence by Automattic's board?

Automattic's board forced Matt Mullenweg out following mounting investor pressure over his unpredictable governance style, including high-profile legal battles with WP Engine and centralized control over open-source infrastructure.

Did Matt Mullenweg voluntarily resign as CEO of Automattic?

No, Mullenweg explicitly confirmed in an internal Slack message to employees that the leave of absence was executed against his personal choice and explicit will.

How does Matt Mullenweg's removal affect the WordPress ecosystem?

With WordPress powering 43 percent of active websites globally, the board's takeover aims to stabilize corporate governance, resolve pending litigations, and ease security concerns for enterprise publishers and hosting providers.