Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has been placed on a paid leave of absence. In an internal message, Mullenweg claims that the company’s CFO, Mark Davies, along with board members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker, conspired to put him on leave.

In 2014, Mullenweg took over as CEO and, in 2024, led a public campaign against a major WordPress host, drawing both praise and criticism from the open-source community. This move set off a legal battle that continues today.

Automattic spokesperson Megan Fox confirmed the decision, stating that Mark Davies will lead the company as interim CEO. Mullenweg will remain a member of the board.

In a statement on Automattic’s internal message board, Toni Schneider expressed confidence in Davies, saying, “We have asked Mark Davies to assume the interim CEO role while Matt is out. We’ve worked closely with Mark over the years and we’re confident he will steer the ship well while Matt is away.”