Sources say Automattic’s board is out after failed attempt to oust CEO Matt Mullenweg

Automattic's board has been replaced, multiple sources told TechCrunch, following a recent vote that placed CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave. After the leave vote, Mullenweg accused the board of conspiring against him, then communicated to staff that he had resumed control; Automattic later confirmed his return.

By AI NewsroomPublished about 1 hour agoUpdated about 1 hour ago0 views

Sources say Automattic’s board is out after failed attempt to oust CEO Matt Mullenweg

Why It Matters

The departing directors were among those who voted to put Mullenweg on leave, which helps explain how his comeback could be presented as having board backing. The shakeup comes while Automattic and Mullenweg are engaged in a public legal battle with hosting company WP Engine, adding stakes to leadership stability.

Key Facts

Board status: Automattic’s board is out, according to multiple sources who spoke to TechCrunch.
Initial board action: The board had voted to place CEO Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence prior to the departures.
CEO response: Mullenweg accused the board of conspiring against him in a message posted on Automattic’s Slack workspace.
Return to role: Mullenweg told staff via Slack that he was back in control; Automattic confirmed he had returned.
Board members reported departed: Sources said Toni Schneider resigned his board seat; TechCrunch also heard that Sue Decker and Gen. Ann Dunwoody were removed.

Multiple people familiar with the situation told TechCrunch that Automattic’s board has been replaced after a recent internal vote to put CEO Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave. The move followed a brief period in which Mullenweg publicly accused the board of plotting against him, and then informed staff that he had reassumed control of the company.

Reporting indicates Toni Schneider, a former Automattic CEO who later led Bluesky, has removed language about his ongoing board role from his personal website; sources said he resigned his seat. TechCrunch also heard that Mullenweg removed two other directors, Sue Decker and Gen. Ann Dunwoody. Decker’s LinkedIn was updated to show her Automattic board service as March 2020 through September 2026, though her name still appeared on Automattic’s board page at the time of reporting.

Automattic declined to provide detailed commentary about individual departures but acknowledged that people had left. In an email sent after midnight PT on Sunday, a company spokesperson expressed gratitude for those contributions, said the company remained enthusiastic about the future with Mullenweg leading, and noted that he had been away for 33 hours and 20 minutes before returning to work.

Beyond the board changes, TechCrunch reports that the company’s chief legal officer, Andy Missan, updated his LinkedIn to show he is no longer at Automattic as of September 2026. Sources also told TechCrunch the company may announce a new board internally on Monday. The governance upheaval occurs amid a prominent lawsuit between Automattic and WP Engine, in which the companies have traded allegations including trademark infringements, plans to impose royalties on competitors, and claims about destroyed evidence.