Matt Mullenweg retakes Automattic after failed board coup

Matt Mullenweg is back as Automattic's CEO after the board tried to force him out—and failed.

Earlier this week, Automattic's board voted to put Mullenweg on paid leave and named CFO Mark Davies interim CEO. Mullenweg simply refused to leave. He booted admins out of the company Slack, declared "I'm a pirate now," and reclaimed control, according to TechCrunch. On Saturday evening, Automattic confirmed Mullenweg remains chairman and CEO with full board support.

Why it matters: Board coups almost never end with the ousted CEO taking back control over company Slack. Mullenweg noted on X that this was likely his fifth time facing a coup, showing his grip on the WordPress parent company remains tight.

Know this: The drama might not be over. TechCrunch reported that board member Toni Schneider may be stepping down, and Automattic's board composition could still be in flux.

Next time a board tries to oust WordPress's founder, they might want to change his admin permissions first.