Automattic's Board Forces CEO Matt Mullenweg Into Leave of Absence

Automattic's board has placed founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence against his will, appointing CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. Mullenweg alleges that Davies conspired with board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker to execute the vote. This leadership change follows years of legal disputes, employee departures, and layoffs. The news was shared by Mullenweg via a company Slack channel, confirming he would miss scheduled meetings.