Automattic’s interim chief financial officer, Jeremy Klaperman, resigned less than a month after being appointed to the role. His promotion came amid significant corporate upheaval, following a governance crisis that led to the entire board either resigning or being dismissed. Klaperman had been elevated from his previous position as CFO of Automattic’s VIP Enterprise business but reportedly disagreed with the new board’s decision to consider outside candidates for the CFO position. Additionally, a conflict with CEO Matt Mullenweg over employee performance review projects contributed to Klaperman’s demotion back to his former role and subsequent departure.

This change follows a tumultuous period at Automattic that included the brief removal and rapid reinstatement of CEO Matt Mullenweg in September. The company’s previous board briefly voted to put Mullenweg on a leave of absence, which triggered a chain of executive exits including that of former CFO Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan. Both executives had signed reciprocal severance agreements during the CEO’s temporary ouster. The upheaval culminated in a completely new board announced at the end of September, featuring science fiction author Hugh Howey and former co-founders of the defunct social app IRL, Henry Khachatryan and Krutal Desai.

Automattic formally acknowledged Klaperman’s departure but did not specify detailed reasons. A spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to evaluating external and internal candidates for key leadership roles to ensure it finds the best talent. An official statement hinted that such processes sometimes cause surprise or offense, occasionally leading to resignations like Klaperman’s. The company is continuing its external search for a qualified CFO to fill the vacancy left by his resignation.

Throughout these changes, CEO Matt Mullenweg has communicated confidence in Automattic’s financial health, asserting stability despite the leadership shuffles. Klaperman’s exit marks yet another high-profile executive departure in a period characterized by rapid transitions and restructuring at the company behind WordPress.com. As Automattic seeks to stabilize its leadership team, the broader implications for company strategy and governance remain to be seen.