Automattic's board forces CEO Matt Mullenweg into leave of absence

Post by ehnto » Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 2:33 AM UTC

ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #104

datakan wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Had a President make a big ordeal about leaving "for health reasons". His LinkedIn had him at a new company within a couple months doing the same thing. Had a CISO leave for "personal" reasons. Talked to him a couple years later and yeah, he was fired. Steal 20$ out of a cash register and make the local news. Waste a billion dollars at a corp and make insane decisions and ride out on a golden parachute. Its a fucked…

So you would prefer a media circus and investor scrutiny when your employer's executives are fired for failures or misconduct? This is likely to cause the price of the shares to drop, including any ESPP and stock grants you and your coworkers have vested. Is the satisfaction of seeing an executive dragged through the mud worth losing a chunk of your net worth to you, no matter how much the exec deserves it? I'd rathe…

Post by Centigonal » Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC

rpgbr wrote: post #105

gkoberger wrote: post #8

Unfortunately, this is for the best. WordPress powers a large percentage of the internet, and I'm not sure what's going on with Matt (who I've always liked) but something turned the past few years. He's been behind unforced error after unforced error as CEO, and I hope a break helps him gain some perspective (although I don't see him being brought back). WordPress has been his life for 23 years. Doing the same thing…

"Unfortunately" for whom? I'm pretty ok, even happy, with him out.

Post by BobbyTables2 » Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 2:48 AM UTC

ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #104

datakan wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Had a President make a big ordeal about leaving "for health reasons". His LinkedIn had him at a new company within a couple months doing the same thing. Had a CISO leave for "personal" reasons. Talked to him a couple years later and yeah, he was fired. Steal 20$ out of a cash register and make the local news. Waste a billion dollars at a corp and make insane decisions and ride out on a golden parachute. Its a fucked…

So you would prefer a media circus and investor scrutiny when your employer's executives are fired for failures or misconduct? This is likely to cause the price of the shares to drop, including any ESPP and stock grants you and your coworkers have vested. Is the satisfaction of seeing an executive dragged through the mud worth losing a chunk of your net worth to you, no matter how much the exec deserves it? I'd rathe…

Post by pathartl » Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 3:04 AM UTC

wpm wrote: post #113

downrightmike wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He got tired of WPEngine not contributing back to wordpress, so he made it his mission to try and get them to pitch in.

Does WPEngine have any obligation to contribute back? How is WordPress licensed?

Post by 0xbadcafebee » Thu, Sep 10, 2026, 3:12 AM UTC

SaltyBackendGuy wrote: post #10

Shank wrote: post #2

> “And the biggest news: I won't be able to make the ELT tomorrow,” Matt wrote in an Announcement Slack. He continued, writing that Mark Davies, current Automattic Chief Financial Officer, has “conspired” with Automattic Board of Directors members Ann Dunwoody, Toni Schneider, and Sue Decker “behind my back and they voted to put me on a paid leave of absence. I voted against that.” If you’re doing this type of accusa…

In recent memory of companies I've worked for, even the absolute WORST executives haven't gotten fired. They always announce that "it's time for another adventure" or "I am taking a break". So I am not shocked they didn't fire him, although the board is now probably wishing they did.