# Automattic confirms Mullenweg has returned as CEO after attempted ouster by board

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-13 10:07 UTC · Category: Business

## Executive Summary
Matt Mullenweg returns as Automattic CEO just two days following an attempted ouster by the company's board.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent reporting across multiple technology publications details a rapid leadership shift at Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com. This development follows a sequence of events where the WordPress co-founder was initially placed on a leave of absence and ousted as CEO in what coverage describes as a board coup attempt. Outlets place heavy emphasis on the swift reversal of the board's decision, tracking the timeline from the initial placement on leave to the official confirmation of Mullenweg's reinstatement. TechCrunch and The Verge specifically document that the entire cycle from the ouster to the return transpired across a span of roughly forty-eight hours.


Inshorts frames the removal as an attempted coup by the board against the WordPress.com parent's chief executive. Search Engine Journal reinforces this context by identifying Mullenweg as the co-founder of WordPress who was temporarily removed from the helm of Automattic before reclaiming the role. Context provided across the coverage highlights Automattic's structural significance as the commercial force behind WordPress.com and related web publishing ecosystems. The sudden placement of Mullenweg on a leave of absence brought immediate industry attention to internal governance dynamics at the firm.


Coverage does not yet specify the exact mechanisms or board negotiations that facilitated the immediate return of the chief executive following the brief interim period managed by Davies. Future updates from the cited publications will likely monitor the ongoing stability of Automattic's executive leadership and any structural changes following the thwarted board ouster. Readers must rely on continued reporting from outlets like TechCrunch and The Verge to ascertain whether additional board members will depart or if internal governance policies at Automattic will be formally revised in response to the two-day leadership crisis.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| The Verge | Matt Mullenweg returns as Automattic CEO two days after getting booted | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTE5tSkNVQnF5ZUlYSmZkWmE1ZkVIZEY2d0RiSlV2SzltQWNRZHN5WmkxUkFja2FZS1VVMjNWY3dQYlprTlpubUhwbmJZNWlaODB6SU9vNGNGV3Z0MUsyMVB1ZUhDNzFrWnlscEhuaFMyTkxSbndWbU1mdGx0YzJUUQ?oc=5) |
| Inshorts | WordPress.com parent's CEO returns to role 2 days after ouster in 'coup' attempt - 'Davies had become interim CEO' - Inshorts | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxPUDJFMTZuM093R19YWWdHVEZQMVFlLWtwMjF2WWpwOFptVEZjRzVCRnBPdl80MEpiRXZMVGVYSS05dzdNUmN0ZFlDM21vcDRSeVY0eWhsZ2N2cnNoVzVBMzFkSXlpcEQxS1IxeUhvS0tpWTc0aWlsbHRDNkM5ZGRYS1VQNlZRU055cHcwTTlwbVVJRUpRVEtkRzZSZkdWZ24zczB0dTFaNVF5akRuLVF5S0VqQjdUdnNKRFJPdkU3T1DSAcYBQVVfeXFMUEJSN0poWmRLMno0WlRTNzk2TG9IaTZWY1ZpV2JDUnlVbGJaQnIzWm9yd1pVbG5ZMkFPdHZ1VkFpcnpOd3NDUDlkNFRWYkZRYjdTZVVneWFaSm1Yc28tQVJCdl9kM0xDV1UtRFQzWndVcTkzY0pZOFlLTTYteUpiRjBuM2NrVDBRMndQcFBocDJtWEl) |
| The Verge | Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg placed on leave | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxPQmV5M0VkY05qaFozVWJWUGg4c0xJX0dOdjAzNkpYU19vb1p2YjBqOFllX0xhN3Y4aHhsaGJmSFV3SW5UQUJhNnVmZk92c0MxNGRfeHNHRzZuV3M4QUEtaUhyckhqWjZzYldZMkJXTDlMUXktdVRDZmdjMTA1eDRkanRmQXVkQnZLNmpFbW9qTUpCT243OW00OA?oc=5) |
| Search Engine Journal | WordPress Co-Founder Matt Mullenweg Ousted As CEO Of Automattic | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxNYVh0R0VyMDFzc25SU0JUNVdVejhvVHVfUXY0WDYtdmRBMkl2aXhQSjJNaG5ObXZrLVAwOUhKQVVCalJ2dmpOTVQ5QjNiN1RvcGdIZmN3VVVzSHNTSFF1bi1VdlowN2hOWTN4RzV1dmFGTEwwYWlfaFFPaWxzbnhWZmMyZ0F4bWlXbnpVNjdORGdrQWk3QzNoSG1VeVFHVy1MLUlxSg?oc=5) |
| 404 Media | Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg Put on 'Leave of Absence' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxPeXg5aFFUdWNQSGFDSzVfRExpVlRMYTQwZWkzX2pVTkpsNF9MS3lwb1RIT3VPZ1NmTUd0ZWtpUFFJeUNLSTRWYWdQcXdiakFoN1NhZHZnYi1sTjBkVWZkWS1WSVVROTZSQ3B6T0Z2enBLdkQ2bTJnTXNydG1OTjYxV3RwWFF5ZFdmUDcxaXFJbTBUZw?oc=5) |
| TechCrunch | Automattic confirms Mullenweg has returned as CEO after attempted ouster by board | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxOWjRsU1RZUkdld3NUb0o3T1puald3NnVMcFU4WE5nLThjZTVmT1M3OWhJMTlfZVNtREgxdVlqZDJqMHM5cHNMMWdpUjlTa1p3YkZIenExaDBCdlhoZXNlSS02ZTVjWU9RSTN1QUJDOTNHMWgtdGNoSWxkc3p3alZUNloxTm90NE1obDlFTGhrbzlWS3dTQ01uYVliUGU0czBuT0RMdEVUUXlyb3YwRFV3ZlFvR2Vfc1E?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-13/automattic-confirms-mullenweg-has-returned-as-ceo-after-attempted-ouster-by*