# Automattic leadership dispute and CEO leave

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/automattic-leadership-dispute-and-ceo-leave
> Updated: 2026-09-12T21:56:16.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

The Automattic board of directors placed co-founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence, appointing CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. Mullenweg alleged that Davies conspired with certain board members to vote for his removal and claimed he was denied the opportunity to have the resolution reviewed by legal counsel. This leadership shift occurred amidst a lawsuit from WP Engine and reports of missing hardware during e-discovery processes.

Following a period of instability, Mullenweg has returned to his role as chairman and CEO. During the dispute, Mullenweg reportedly removed administrators within the company’s Slack workspace and communicated to employees that he was back ‘in control’. An Automattic spokesperson confirmed his reinstatement, stating he holds the position with the ‘full support of the board’.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-12: Matt Mullenweg returns as Automattic CEO after board leave

Matt Mullenweg has been reinstated as CEO of Automattic following a board decision to place him on leave and a period of internal leadership conflict.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/matt-mullenweg-returns-as-automattic-ceo-after-board-leave

### 2026-09-09: Automattic board places CEO Matt Mullenweg on leave

Automattic has placed WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence, appointing CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO following allegations of conspiracy by Mullenweg.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/automattic-board-places-ceo-matt-mullenweg-on-leave

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Cite as: Automattic leadership dispute and CEO leave. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/automattic-leadership-dispute-and-ceo-leave