Matt Mullenweg on Automattic Succession Planning - No Committee

Growing Calls for Matt Mullenweg to Step Down

Demands for Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, to relinquish his leadership position have been escalating in recent months.

This increase in pressure stems from his highly publicized dispute and ongoing legal proceedings with web hosting provider, WP Engine.

Mullenweg's Plans for the Future

Despite the calls for his departure, Mullenweg has expressed his intention to remain in his role and is actively considering succession planning strategies.

He aims to transition leadership to a single CEO, rather than a collective body, who will prioritize the well-being of the WordPress community.

Recap of the WP Engine Dispute

During a recent appearance on Lenny’s Podcast, Mullenweg revisited the contentious issues surrounding his conflict with WP Engine.

He asserts that the company has been capitalizing on the open-source nature of WordPress to grow its business without providing adequate contributions back to the WordPress project and its community.

WP Engine’s business is fundamentally built upon the WordPress platform.

Looking Ahead for WordPress and Automattic

Mullenweg also shared his perspectives on the future trajectory of both WordPress and Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, and other ventures.

He highlighted the importance of maintaining executive control, citing examples of successful companies where the founder or a key executive retains a majority voting stake.

Succession Planning and Stewardship

“I don’t want to pass it to a committee,” Mullenweg stated, referring to the organization he has cultivated with Automattic and WordPress.

“I want to pass it to someone else who could have a role similar to mine, and really sort of try to be a steward.”

Accountability to the Community

Mullenweg acknowledged the inherent checks and balances within the WordPress ecosystem.

He noted that the community has the power to diverge, create alternative versions of the software, or shift their support, ultimately holding leadership accountable.

He described the role as being “a lot more like a mayor than a CEO,” emphasizing accountability to users and contributors.

Automattic's Role in WordPress Adoption

Mullenweg emphasized Automattic’s contribution to expanding WordPress adoption.

He pointed to the free version of WordPress.com, which has introduced over 100 million individuals to the software.

A Unique Business Model

“That kind of for-profit, nonprofit, open source, working in concert — I think is a really informed model that we’re starting to see a lot more companies do,” he explained.

He expressed excitement that concepts once considered controversial, such as open source and distributed work, are now becoming standard practice for many innovative startups and within the broader tech ecosystem.

This collaborative approach between Automattic and WordPress.org is proving to be increasingly influential.