WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg regains control of Automattic after 48-hour board dispute

Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, has returned to his position less than 48 hours after being suspended by the company's board. On September 11, Mullenweg announced on internal Slack that he had regained control, and an Automattic spokesperson confirmed on September 12 that he remains chairman and CEO with the board's full support. The board had previously placed him on paid leave on September 9, appointing CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO, though the specific reasons for the suspension remain undisclosed. Mullenweg had alleged that private equity firm Silver Lake was involved in the move, a claim that remains unverified. Despite his return, uncertainty persists regarding the board's internal dynamics and the underlying causes of the conflict, raising concerns within the open-source community.