Automattic has a new board after failed attempt to put CEO on leave

A dramatic governance struggle at Automattic ended with founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg rebuilding the company’s board after a previous board tried and failed to put him on paid leave. Mullenweg says he retook control within about 33 hours, leveraging his supervoting shares (he has cited controlling ~84% of votes) to remove or accept the resignations of several directors and to dismiss the acting CFO and chief legal officer. The new board announced to staff includes novelist Hugh Howey, author Amy Chan, and IRL co‑founders Henry Khatachryan and Krutal Desai, alongside a slate of advisers such as Jaime Waydo, Matt Van Horn, and Hiten Shah. The inclusion of IRL founders is notable because that startup collapsed amid findings that most accounts were bots and later litigation involving investors.

Beyond personnel turnover, the episode has immediate legal and strategic consequences: Mullenweg replaced the company’s outside counsel with Susman Godfrey LLP, a move observers say could be tied to ongoing litigation with hosting provider WP Engine - a dispute that has included allegations about destroyed evidence. The ousted board never publicly explained its move to remove Mullenweg; he has told employees he now holds the company’s principal officer roles under Delaware law, called the episode a coup attempt, and emphasized continuity of Automattic’s mission despite the upheaval.