Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of Automattic, has restructured the company’s board just weeks following an unsuccessful attempt by prior directors to remove him. Announced to staff on Friday, the new board features a diverse mix, including a well-known science-fiction author and two co-founders of the defunct social app IRL, information confirmed by both sources and Mullenweg himself.
This latest development marks a significant chapter in an internal governance struggle at Automattic, the organization behind WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce, and more. Earlier this month, the former board had voted to place Mullenweg on leave, aiming to replace him, but he regained control just 33 hours later, dismissing or accepting the resignations of the board members involved.
Mullenweg had alluded to a board meeting this week without revealing the attendees, but he has now informed Automattic employees of the changes via the company’s announcements channel on Slack.
According to sources, the newly constituted board at Automattic includes:
- Hugh Howey, an American author known for the “Silo” series. (Mullenweg and Howey hiked part of the Camino de Santiago together in 2018.)
- Amy Chan, author of “Breakup Bootcamp,” who recently shared Mullenweg’s tweet regarding the company’s AI site builder, Spacefast.
- Henry Khachatryan, a co-founder of IRL, described by Mullenweg as a “founder and builder” with a history of collaboration with the late technology journalist Om Malik.
- Krutal Desai, who co-founded IRL alongside Khachatryan.
It’s noteworthy that IRL closed down after investigations revealed that its user base largely consisted of bots. The co-founders, including CEO Abraham Shafi, subsequently pursued legal action against SoftBank and other investors following a lawsuit from SoftBank for securities fraud.
Automattic is also welcoming new advisors to its team, including Jaime Waydo, former CTO of Woop, June co-founder Matt Van Horn, and Hiten Shah, co-founder of KISSmetrics.
In a message to employees, Mullenweg is reported to have stated that, “for purposes of Delaware law, I am the CEO, President, Treasurer, and Secretary,” and noted that the attempted ousting led to a surge of support for him.
He expressed that the recent board meeting was the most intriguing in a decade since the Woo acquisition.
When approached for comment, Automattic indicated that it would provide a response soon. Mullenweg later confirmed the board and advisor changes, adding, “We are navigating through unprecedented changes, possibly a singularity. The next six months will shape the next 20 years for Automattic.”
Previously, the original board had attempted to place Mullenweg on paid leave, but he quickly regained control, dismissing members involved in what he referred to as a “coup attempt.”
Mullenweg utilized his voting shares—holding 84% of the votes—to facilitate the board changes, stating during TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 that the gap between his suspension and reinstatement lasted precisely “33 hours and 20 minutes.”
Following the previous board’s failed efforts, Toni Schneider, a founding CEO of Automattic and current CEO of Bluesky, stepped down from his role on the board. Mullenweg also removed General Ann Dunwoody from the board, while another member, Sue Decker, resigned. In addition, he let go of Automattic CFO Mark Davies, who was expected to take the interim CEO position, along with chief legal officer Andy Missan, as reported by sources.
The rationale behind the board’s decision to attempt Mullenweg’s removal has never been publicly disclosed.
Additionally, after resuming his position, Mullenweg replaced Automattic’s legal counsel, raising questions about whether the board conflict was related to the ongoing lawsuit with hosting provider WP Engine concerning trademark disputes and claims about WP Engine’s lack of contribution to the WordPress open-source project. This legal team had previously accused Mullenweg in July of tampering with evidence, according to court documents.
In a message shared internally following the chaotic events, Mullenweg acknowledged the turmoil, stating:
Recently, a number of board members formed a special committee and voted to put me on a leave of absence. They executed this without prior notice, preventing me from addressing their concerns adequately. I wasn’t even given a brief window to consult with legal counsel.
I acted promptly to rectify that decision. I am back in full control and working with you to achieve our goals.
I also want to announce our engagement with Susman Godfrey LLP as our new legal representatives. They are among the top trial firms in the country and will be protecting our interests during the ongoing litigation.
I realize this past week has been challenging. I appreciate your continued support and focus on our mission. More updates will follow soon, but rest assured that Automattic’s objectives remain unchanged.
Corrections and updates: After publication, clarifications were made regarding Waydo’s previous role as Woop’s CTO. Mullenweg’s statements and confirmations were also included.
