During a brief and volatile period when Automattic founder Matt Mullenweg was removed from his leadership roles, the company saw a shift in its leadership structure. The transition occurred in the narrow window between the board’s vote to sideline Mullenweg and his successful return to power days later.
Mark Davies, who was serving as Chief Financial Officer before being named interim CEO, and Andy Missan, the Chief Legal Officer, held their positions while Mullenweg was on a board-mandated leave.
The internal power struggle began on September 9, 2026, when Automattic’s board voted to place Mullenweg on a paid leave of absence, appointing Davies to lead the company. The transition was exceptionally short-lived; by September 14, 2026, Mullenweg had been reinstated as Chairman and CEO. He later characterized the move as a “coup” and claimed he was given only 50 minutes of notice before the board voted to remove him.
The failed ouster led to an immediate and significant restructuring of Automattic’s governance. Both Davies and Missan have since left the company. Board members Toni Schneider, Sue Decker, and Ann Dunwoody, who voted for the ouster, are no longer on the Automattic board as of mid-September 2026, effectively dissolving the board configuration that had challenged Mullenweg’s leadership.
Governance Crisis
The board’s decision to place Mullenweg on leave on September 9, 2026, initiated a transition within the company leadership.
Following the upheaval, Mullenweg has consolidated his position. The departure of the dissenting board members and the executives followed Mullenweg’s return as Chairman and CEO.
