Automattic has placed founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence against his wishes, according to a Slack message seen by TechCrunch. The company’s board voted for the move, with Chief Financial Officer Mark Davies appointed interim CEO. Mullenweg said Davies, Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider and Sue Decker acted behind his back, and that he was denied time to obtain independent legal counsel before the vote. Automattic confirmed the leave and said the board had full confidence in Davies and the team. WordPress.org Executive Director Mary Hubbard said Mullenweg remained leader of the WordPress project and that the open-source project’s work was continuing as planned. The decision comes amid Automattic’s legal dispute with WP Engine, staff cuts in April 2025 and wider tensions surrounding Mullenweg’s leadership, while the board’s reason for acting now remains unclear.