A 33-hour boardroom coup at Automattic failed after CEO Matt Mullenweg was voted on leave, only to return and oust the directors behind the move. The drama stems from internal divisions over his legal battle with WP Engine.
Follow the storyInside5 stories
01Summary
- 01On Sept. 9, 2024, Automattic's six-member board voted to put CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave, but he regained control 33 hours later.
- 02The three directors who voted for the leave, along with the CFO and chief legal officer, left the company after Mullenweg returned.
- 03Mullenweg's legal fight with WP Engine has led to 159 staff departures and an antitrust lawsuit that a federal judge revived on Sept. 24, 2025.
- 04WP Engine has accused Automattic of destroying evidence, including electronic devices containing messages sought in discovery.
- 05Automattic has raised nearly $1 billion from investors and was valued at $7.5 billion in 2021.
02Why it matters
WordPress powers over 40% of the web, and this internal conflict between its owner and a major hosting provider could affect how millions of websites operate, especially if antitrust claims succeed.
Pulse AIAsk about this story
Answers are generated by AI from the story summary; they are not investment, health or legal advice.
