Automattic has confirmed that Matt Mullenweg has resumed his role as chairman and CEO after an unexpected board attempt to place him on paid leave earlier this week. The company's board had voted to remove Mullenweg temporarily for undisclosed reasons and appointed CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO. However, Mullenweg resisted this decision, regaining control of the company's Slack channels and declaring himself back in charge, a move accompanied by his quirky "I’m a pirate now" remark.

The sudden board action caught many by surprise, including Mullenweg, who accused board members of conspiring against him. Despite the internal turmoil, Automattic now states Mullenweg has the full support of the board, with numerous company executives and employees publicly backing him, especially on social media platforms like X. The situation has not fully clarified ongoing changes to the board, with reports that founding CEO Toni Schneider may have stepped down, though this remains unconfirmed.

Mullenweg’s return marks at least the fifth time the WordPress-founder has faced a leadership challenge, highlighting ongoing tensions within Automattic’s governance. Meanwhile, company communications and public responses have been limited, with no official explanation offered for the original board move or for the shifts within the board’s composition. The episode underscores the complex dynamics at play within one of the web’s most influential companies.

This episode unfolds amid broader shifts in Automattic's leadership culture, reflecting a rare public power struggle rarely seen in the company’s history. Mullenweg’s unique leadership style, blending a tech founder's irreverence with commanding control, has now been reasserted, stabilizing the company’s top leadership after a week of uncertainty.