Automattic's board forces CEO Matt Mullenweg into leave of absence

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has forced its founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg onto a leave of absence through a board decision. Mullenweg himself communicated this to employees via a Slack message on Wednesday, which TechCrunch has reviewed. The message indicates that the leave was not voluntary for Mullenweg.

During Mullenweg's absence, the company's Chief Financial Officer, whose name was not disclosed, will assume responsibility. The announcement did not provide specific reasons for the leave or its duration. Automattic is a major player in the web publishing space, offering tools for website creation and management.

Automattic's board has not issued a public statement regarding the situation. Details about the company's future direction or Mullenweg's potential return to his role remain unclear. Mullenweg has been a pivotal figure in the development of WordPress and the growth of Automattic.