Hustler Words – After a week of unprecedented corporate drama, Automattic, the parent company behind WordPress.com, has officially confirmed the reinstatement of its founder, Matt Mullenweg, as CEO. This development follows a tumultuous period that saw Mullenweg initially removed from his leadership role by a board vote, only to defiantly reclaim his position amidst accusations of internal conspiracy.
The saga began earlier in the week when Automattic’s board reportedly voted to place Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence, the reasons for which remain undisclosed. This move seemingly blindsided the long-standing CEO, who subsequently took to the company’s internal Slack channels, alleging that board members were "conspiring" against him. Initially, Automattic had confirmed Mullenweg’s temporary departure to Hustler Words, stating that Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies would assume the role of interim CEO with the board’s full backing.
However, the transition proved anything but smooth. Mullenweg, seemingly unwilling to concede, reportedly took decisive action within the company’s digital infrastructure. Sources close to the situation informed Hustler Words that he removed other administrators from the company Slack, subsequently announcing to employees that all issues had been resolved and he was once again in control of Automattic. During this period of defiance, Mullenweg famously declared, "I’m a pirate now," and used expletives, a stark departure from his usual demeanor. He even quipped, "If this is an HR problem, please wrangle me in since my normal wranglers are with Mark Davies," highlighting the extraordinary circumstances.
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When pressed by Hustler Words for official confirmation regarding his return, Mullenweg cryptically promised a blog post. The anticipated announcement, however, turned out to be an unrelated entry about purchasing a houseboat, further fueling speculation about his intentions. When asked if his comments about being back were merely a form of trolling, he retorted, "I’m not a troll I’m a pirate, obviously," maintaining his defiant persona. Mullenweg later alluded on X (formerly Twitter) that this incident marked potentially the fifth "coup" he had faced during his tenure.
Automattic’s official statement, shared with Hustler Words late Saturday, affirmed Mullenweg’s return, emphasizing his status as both chairman and CEO with the "full support of the board." The company also noted visible online support for Mullenweg from top executives and Automatticians, referring to numerous supportive posts on X that he had been reposting.
The corporate upheaval also raised questions about the board’s composition. Automattic remained unresponsive to inquiries regarding potential changes, including reports of founding CEO and current Bluesky lead, Toni Schneider, stepping down from the board. Schneider himself did not respond to requests for comment. The full extent of any changes to the board’s structure remains unclear, with indications that its composition may still be in flux following this dramatic power struggle. This episode underscores the complex dynamics of leadership and governance even within established tech giants.
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