Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg has successfully revamped the company’s board of directors just weeks after a failed internal coup aimed at removing him from power. The governance crisis erupted when the previous board voted to place Mullenweg on a leave of absence, a manoeuvre he swiftly overturned within hours by leveraging his dominant voting share control.
The newly formed board features a diverse group of figures, including bestselling science fiction author Hugh Howey, author Amy Chan, and IRL co-founders Henry Khatachryan and Krutal Desai, alongside several new corporate advisers. This leadership shake-up at the parent company of WordPress.com and Tumblr follows significant internal friction and ongoing external legal disputes.
Following his return to full control, Mullenweg replaced key executives and retained new legal counsel to navigate the company’s pending litigations. Despite the recent chaos, the executive leadership insists that Automattic’s core mission and operational priorities remain steadfast moving forward.
- Matt Mullenweg overhauled Automattic’s board following a brief, failed attempt to oust him.
- He leveraged his voting majority to reclaim control of the parent company of WordPress.com.
- The new board includes authors and former startup founders among its eclectic members.
- Automattic also updated its legal representation amidst ongoing corporate lawsuits.
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