Automattic CEO Put on Leave Then Put Back in Charge Within 48 Hours
KEY POINTS
- •Matt Mullenweg was placed on a paid leave of absence on September 9, 2026, after a board vote he opposed.
- •CFO Mark Davies was named interim CEO while Matt remained a board member, despite the leave decision.
- •Two days later, Matt announced via Slack he was reinstated as CEO, sharing control once again.
On an epic corporate soap-opera stage, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg was suddenly sidelined with a 'paid leave of absence' on September 9, 2026—because CFO Mark Davies and the board 'conspired,' according to Mullenweg himself in a Slack drama worthy of daytime TV. Davies then awkwardly stepped up as interim CEO but simultaneously said Matt would stay on the board because nothing says 'we ousted you' like keeping you nearby. Just two days later, Matt announces via Slack he's back in control—probably surprised his leave turned into a corporate boomerang. Automattic’s spokesperson is still tiptoeing around the situation while TechCrunch and 404 Media chronicle every twist.
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(1 of 3)Automattic’s board played CEO hot potato so hard they forgot who was in charge—Matt got a vacation but no longer knows if he's off or on the team.
Nothing says stability like firing your CEO and then quickly un-firing him—board meetings must be wild parties at Automattic.
Mark Davies staged a 'conspiracy' coup but forgot to check if Matt wanted a leave—awkwardly handing the interim CEO mic back in two days.
Source: Theverge | Published: 9/11/2026 | Author: Jay Peters
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