Matt Mullenweg Reclaims Control at Automattic After Board Conflict

The brief power struggle began Wednesday when Automattic confirmed that Mullenweg had been placed on paid leave, with Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies stepping in as interim leader. The move triggered an immediate, chaotic response from Mullenweg, who took to the company Slack to accuse board members of conspiring against him. He effectively locked other administrators out of the platform, declaring himself back in control while dismissing the board's authority.

Throughout the standoff, Mullenweg oscillated between cryptic messages and defiant rhetoric, at one point identifying himself as a "pirate" in company channels. While the board initially attempted to replace him, their efforts collapsed in the face of his refusal to vacate the role. The company has yet to clarify the specific reasons behind the initial ouster or address reports regarding the resignation of board member Toni Schneider, who currently leads Bluesky. Automattic’s leadership structure remains in flux as the organization attempts to move past the public confrontation.