Automattic has a new board after failed attempt to put CEO on leave
3 hours ago
- Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg rebuilt the company's board after previous directors attempted and failed to oust him.
- The new board includes author Hugh Howey, relationship writer Amy Chan, and co-founders of the defunct social app IRL, Henry Khatachryan and Krutal Desai.
- New advisers include Curio Studio co-founder Jaime Waydo, June co-founder Matt Van Horn, and KISSmetrics co-founder Hiten Shah.
- Mullenweg controls 84% of voting shares and reversed his ouster within 33 hours, removing or accepting resignations of involved directors.
- The ouster attempt followed an internal governance fight, and the board never publicly stated its reasons for trying to remove Mullenweg.
- Mullenweg replaced legal counsel with Susman Godfrey LLP amid an ongoing trademark lawsuit with WP Engine.
- In an internal message, Mullenweg acknowledged the chaos and stated he is fully back in charge of the company.