Matt Mullenweg claimed control of Automattic in a Slack message to employees, reversing course just days after the company's board placed him on administrative leave. The WordPress creator's sudden reinstatement follows a dramatic week of boardroom conflict at the web infrastructure giant.
Mullenweg's message, reviewed by TechCrunch, reasserted his authority without offering explanation for the board's initial decision to sideline him. Automattic has not officially confirmed the apparent reversal through formal corporate channels, leaving the situation technically unresolved at the company level.
The timeline suggests internal instability at Automattic, which operates WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Jetpack among other products serving millions of websites globally. A forced leave for the founder and long-time leader typically signals board disagreement over strategy, governance, or performance metrics. The speed of Mullenweg's return raises questions about whether the board's original action lacked sufficient consensus or whether external pressure forced a settlement.
Automattic employees now face ambiguity about actual leadership and decision-making authority. A CEO placed on leave then reinstated via Slack creates operational uncertainty for a company managing critical infrastructure across the web. Staff cannot know if Mullenweg's message reflects board authorization or represents unilateral action that could trigger further conflict.
The company competes in crowded markets. WordPress.com faces rivalry from Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify for small business website builders. WooCommerce competes with BigCommerce and Shopify for e-commerce functionality. Jetpack operates in the WordPress security and performance layer alongside Wordfence and Sucuri. Any leadership instability could advantage competitors seeking to poach customers or talent.
Mullenweg built Automattic from WordPress open-source roots into a private venture-backed company. The company raised $200 million in funding at a $7.75 billion valuation in 2021, according to PitchBook data. Evan Williams' Obvious Ventures and Salesforce Ventures participated in that round. As founder and primary decision-maker for two decades, Mullenweg's removal would represent unprecedented instability in the company's history.
The absence of official corporate confirmation suggests the board may not have unanimously endorsed Mullenweg's return. If only a faction of directors support his reinstatement, further conflict could emerge. The situation mirrors leadership disputes that have plagued other founder-led companies, from Twitter under Jack Dorsey to Stripe under Patrick Collison during internal governance debates.
For WordPress users worldwide, unclear Automattic leadership creates risk. The company controls infrastructure millions depend on daily. Product roadmap decisions, security updates, pricing changes, and feature development all require stable direction. A company in internal chaos cannot prioritize customer needs.
Mullenweg's Slack message amounts to a public declaration of control without formal board ratification visible to outsiders. Automattic employees and customers will watch for official statements clarifying whether the board actually approved his return or whether this represents a unilateral power grab that could invite legal action. The next 48 hours will determine whether this reversal holds or triggers another escalation.