Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg has been placed on a leave of absence, according to an internal company memo. Mullenweg, who also co-founded WordPress, informed employees via a company-wide Slack message that the board voted to put him on leave, describing the decision as a "coup" orchestrated by board members who "conspired" behind his back. The move comes amid ongoing tensions between Mullenweg and other stakeholders over the direction of WordPress and its commercial arm, Automattic.

In his message, Mullenweg said he was "disappointed but not surprised" by the board's action, and hinted at a legal fight to regain control. The news has sent ripples through the open-source community, with many developers and users expressing concern about the future of WordPress under new leadership. Automattic has not yet named an interim CEO, and Mullenweg's leave is effective immediately.

This development follows a year of public disputes between Mullenweg and WP Engine, a rival WordPress hosting provider, over trademark and community governance issues. The board's decision marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing saga, and observers are watching closely to see how it impacts the broader WordPress ecosystem, which powers over 40% of the web.