Automattic names interim CFO after exec departures
Automattic has appointed Jeremy Klaperman, the CFO of its WordPress VIP Enterprise unit, as interim chief financial officer. The move follows a turbulent week that included an attempted ouster of CEO Matt Mullenweg, the departure of several executives including former CFO Mark Davies and chief legal officer Andy Missan, and changes to the board.
Why It Matters
Leadership changes at Automattic come amid a governance crisis that briefly displaced its CEO and led to multiple senior exits, creating near-term uncertainty about the company’s executive and board composition. How the company fills the CFO and legal chief roles, and who joins the board, will shape its management stability going forward.
Key Facts
- Interim CFO: Jeremy Klaperman
- Klaperman's prior role: CFO of WordPress VIP Enterprise business unit
- Former CFO who departed: Mark Davies
- Former chief legal officer who departed: Andy Missan
- Event preceding changes: Attempted ouster of CEO Matt Mullenweg
Automattic named Jeremy Klaperman as its interim chief financial officer, according to an internal announcement shared by CEO Matt Mullenweg. Klaperman currently serves as CFO for the company’s WordPress VIP Enterprise unit and has previously stepped into the CFO role during Mark Davies’s sabbatical.
The appointment follows an internal governance episode last week in which an attempted removal of Mullenweg briefly succeeded, triggering departures by several senior leaders. Among those who left were then-CFO Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan; Davies also served briefly as interim CEO before Mullenweg returned to the role. TechCrunch reported that Davies and Missan signed reciprocal severance agreements during Mullenweg’s 33-hour leave of absence.
Mullenweg said the board — which will announce new members in the future — still needs to consider both internal and external candidates for a permanent CFO. He also noted that a candidate for chief legal officer has verbally accepted the role to replace Missan, though that person’s name has not been disclosed. Stephen Wolfram, the special advisor and creator of Wolfram|Alpha, will stay in his advisory position.
In his Slack post, Mullenweg emphasized confidence in the company’s cash and financial position while acknowledging further work to stabilize leadership. Automattic’s next board meeting is scheduled for September 23, when the board is expected to continue addressing executive and governance matters.