--- title: "Matt Mullenweg Put on Paid Leave by Automattic Board" url: https://newscentral.site/matt-mullenweg-put-on-paid-leave-by-automattic-board/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Business" published: 2026-10-19T07:15:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-19T11:45:52.065Z id: 3716b3ea-cd9b-43bc-8933-e4f1cfd4d564 source: "Fortune https://fortune.com/2026/10/19/inside-the-33-hour-failed-boardroom-coup-to-overthrow-wordpress-founder-matt-mullenweg/" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/matt-mullenweg-put-on-paid-leave-by-automattic-board/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Matt Mullenweg Put on Paid Leave by Automattic Board Automattic's CEO Matt Mullenweg was put on paid leave by the company's board of directors without explanation. A surprise move by Automattic's board of directors has left the tech world reeling as its CEO, Matt Mullenweg, was put on paid leave just days after returning from his annual Burning Man trip. The decision, made without explanation, seemed to come out of nowhere and caught even long-time directors off guard. The six-member board had been largely composed of individuals who had mentored Mullenweg for years, raising questions about the motivations behind their sudden action. Mullenweg himself broke the news in a Slack message to employees, revealing that three board members - Mark Davies, Ann Dunwoody, and Toni - along with the company's CFO and chief legal officer, had conspired against him. The move was met with widespread confusion among Automattic's investors, including one major stakeholder who claimed to have learned of the decision from news reports. Despite the sudden turn of events, Mullenweg was back in control just 33 hours later, with the three directors and company executives involved in his ouster removed from their positions. The level of secrecy surrounding the drama has left many in the tech community scratching their heads, with no official explanation provided by the board members for their actions. Automattic's investors are still trying to make sense of what happened, with one person familiar with BlackRock's investment expressing confusion over how Mullenweg was able to reverse the decision. A closer look at Automattic's internal dynamics suggests that a long-standing civil war may be at play, centered around Mullenweg's high-profile dispute with WP Engine, a company that sells WordPress hosting services. Court filings and interviews with former employees paint a picture of a company divided against itself, with some pointing to the litigation as a key factor in the recent power struggle. The ongoing legal battle between Automattic and WP Engine has taken a toll on the company's workforce, with 159 employees leaving their posts so far due to disagreements over Matt Mullenweg's pursuit of acquiring WP Engine. The high-stakes litigation has become a significant liability for Automattic, with potential consequences that could impact its financial stability. WP Engine's lawsuit against Automattic and Mullenweg includes claims of attempted extortion and antitrust practices, which were initially dismissed but later revived by a federal judge in September this year. If WP Engine is successful in proving these claims, it could be entitled to triple the damages under federal antitrust law, further increasing the financial burden on Automattic. In response to WP Engine's lawsuit, Automattic countersued last year, accusing its rival of trademark infringement, but WP Engine has now asked a judge to dismiss these claims as punishment for Mullenweg's alleged bad-faith conduct during the suit. WP Engine alleges that Mullenweg engaged in questionable practices, including the loss of electronic devices containing crucial messages sought by the company during discovery. Automattic's business model relies on a complex web of relationships with companies like WP Engine, which provides hosting services for WordPress websites. These companies benefit from using Automattic's free software and contribute to its maintenance in return, creating a delicate balance that is essential to the open-source ecosystem. The WordPress community is vast and diverse, encompassing its own news site, WP Tavern, a bustling subreddit, and numerous businesses built on top of the platform. Mullenweg took issue with WP Engine's contribution to the community, claiming it was woefully inadequate compared to Automattic's efforts. While Automattic donated an estimated 3,900 hours per week to improving WordPress, WP Engine contributed a paltry 40 hours, Mullenweg alleged. WP Engine, which is majority-owned by private equity firm Silver Lake, sells hosting services for WordPress websites and has access to key resources provided by Automattic. Automattic's leadership has denied allegations of antitrust behavior, initially dismissed by a judge but later revived in court proceedings. The company has also pushed back against claims that it infringed on WP Engine's trademarks, arguing that using the term "WordPress to describe software used by its customers is permissible and even explicitly allowed. Insiders have revealed that Matt Mullenweg's demands for a share of WP Engine's revenue were met with skepticism within Automattic. His plan was seen as more aggressive than strategic, with some questioning whether it would ultimately benefit the company. Mullenweg's approach to the dispute was marked by inconsistency and lack of clear objectives. Even senior leaders tasked with defending his strategy in public were left uncertain about its underlying rationale. As the fight with WP Engine played out, Mullenweg took to various platforms - including his blog, X, and WordPress conferences - to air his grievances. Employees were expected to rally behind him, but not everyone was convinced that this approach would ultimately serve Automattic's interests. Some former employees have spoken in defense of Mullenweg's actions, with one arguing that contributing back to the open-source community is essential for companies like Automattic. Others have expressed concerns about the lawsuit, while still supporting Mullenweg's goals. The close relationship between Matt Mullenweg and his directors at Automattic was apparent even among employees who disagreed with him. One former employee described it as familial, suggesting a level of comfort and trust that went beyond a typical employer-employee dynamic. Toni Schneider, for instance, had left his job as Yahoo vice president in 2006 to join Mullenweg at Automattic when he was just 22 years old. He served as CEO for eight years before stepping down, but remained on the board afterwards. This level of loyalty and dedication is rare in the business world. For over a decade, the board at Automattic had not added any new members. It wasn't until 2018 that Ann Dunwoody, a retired four-star Army general, joined the team. Mullenweg had tracked her down after reading her book on leadership and company management, even flying to Florida to meet her in person. Despite their impressive backgrounds and experience, however, the board's power was limited by Mullenweg's control over Automattic's voting stock. It is estimated that he owns around 84% of the voting power, although exactly how this came about remains unclear. Even some shareholders are unsure how Mullenweg amassed such a significant amount of control. This level of control makes any move against him all the more striking, especially considering the board's decision to act was likely a suicide mission. With no mathematical way to overcome Mullenweg's votes, it is unlikely that the board would have taken this step lightly. Instead, it may have been a message or an attempt to send a signal. Court filings suggest that the WP Engine lawsuit has become increasingly focused on evidence rather than trademark issues. This shift in focus may have triggered the board's move against Mullenweg, although the exact reasons behind their decision remain unclear. The preservation of evidence in the ongoing lawsuit between WP Engine and Automattic has been a contentious issue, with Automattic's handling of Matt Mullenweg's personal messages coming under scrutiny. According to court filings, Automattic began preserving relevant documents in July 2024, after it was deemed likely to be sued. However, despite exchanging evidence for over a year, the company had only produced a limited number of Mullenweg's messages from various platforms, including just 16 Telegram messages and one Signal conversation. The lack of preserved evidence has raised questions about Automattic's transparency, with WP Engine alleging that the company's lawyers made false statements about the missing messages in 2025. The plaintiffs have asked the judge to consider punishing Automattic by dismissing its claims in the case due to this alleged misconduct. Automattic has denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the missing messages were personal conversations with romantic partners, which would not be relevant to the lawsuit. This explanation was provided in a post on the company's website by Andy Missan, its legal officer, who wrote that nothing relevant to the case was lost". The court's handling of this matter highlights the importance of attorney integrity and transparency, as lawyers who mislead judges can face severe consequences, including loss of their license or disbarment. --- Source: [Fortune](https://fortune.com/2026/10/19/inside-the-33-hour-failed-boardroom-coup-to-overthrow-wordpress-founder-matt-mullenweg/) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/matt-mullenweg-put-on-paid-leave-by-automattic-board/