From Sarah Perez at TechCrunch: Automattic has a new board after failed attempt to put CEO on leave. (Automattic is the company who controls WordPress.com, and also basically all of WordPress.)
This is a remarkable story about a failed coup attempt to oust Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg, following up a years-long story I’ve previously written about at my studio. (If you want the long version, Josh Collingsworth has an excellent writeup.) The shortest possible version is that Mullenweg seems to have joined the list of tech CEOs who, despite being well respected, suddenly went insane and started saying and doing the dumbest things.
This whole story is bananas to me. Here’s my favourite quote:
>Of note, Mullenweg also replaced Automattic’s legal counsel after his return, a move that raises questions about whether the boardroom fight is tied to the company’s ongoing lawsuit with hosting provider WP Engine over trademark disputes and claims over WP Engine’s lack of contribution to the WordPress open source project. (WP Engine’s legal team had also accused Mullenweg this July of destroying evidence, court filings show.)
Yes, it’s obviously about the company’s ongoing lawsuit with WP Engine. Is there something even more ridiculous it could be about?
I can’t believe almost 50% of the web relies on something this guy is responsible for.
TechCrunch also updated their article after publishing with this hilarious tidbit:
After publication, Mullenweg confirmed the board additions and advisors, and shared the following statement: “We are living through times of unprecedented change, possibly a singularity. The next six months will determine the next 20 years of Automattic.”
Matt, we are not living through a singularity. This is crazy talk.
We need to stop giving crazy CEOs so much airtime.