Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg placed on paid leave

Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has been placed on a paid leave of absence. The news, first reported by 404 Media, follows internal tensions within the organization. In a message shared by the outlet, Mullenweg alleged that Automattic’s Chief Financial Officer, Mark Davies, conspired with members of the board to initiate this leave. The situation marks a significant development for the company, which plays a central role in the web publishing ecosystem. While details regarding the specific reasons for the board's decision remain limited, the move highlights internal governance challenges at the firm. Automattic has not yet provided a comprehensive public statement regarding the transition, but the development has drawn significant attention from the tech industry, given Mullenweg's prominent role as a long-time leader and advocate for the open-source WordPress project.