Matt Mullenweg, the CEO of Automattic—the company that owns WordPress.com—has been placed on a paid leave of absence, according to a report from 404 Media. In an internal message seen by the outlet, Mullenweg claimed that Automattic’s chief financial officer, Mark Davies, conspired with several board members to put him on leave. He stated that the board voted to place him on leave, and he voted against the decision. The board members involved, according to Mullenweg, include Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker. Mullenweg is also one of the co-founders of WordPress.org, a free and open-source content management system used by millions of websites worldwide. He has led Automattic since 2014, overseeing the company's growth and operations. In 2024, Mullenweg was involved in a public campaign against a major WordPress hosting provider, which sparked controversy within the open-source community and led to an ongoing legal dispute. With Mullenweg on leave, Mark Davies will serve as the interim CEO of Automattic. According to the internal messages, Mullenweg will remain on the company’s board. Toni Schneider, a board member, stated in the messages that the board asked Mullenweg to step away from his CEO role and take a leave of absence. She added that the board is confident Davies will manage the company effectively during Mullenweg’s absence. Automattic has not yet responded to The Verge’s request for comment, leaving the full details of the situation unclear. The move comes at a time when the company is navigating both internal leadership changes and external challenges related to its role in the WordPress ecosystem.