Automattic Names Jeremy Klaperman Interim CFO Following Executive Shakeup and Boardroom Turmoil
Automattic, the prominent web development company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Tumblr, has appointed Jeremy Klaperman as its interim Chief Financial Officer. Klaperman previously served as the CFO of WordPress VIP, the company’s enterprise-tier business unit. The leadership transition, communicated internally to employees via Slack on Friday, September 18, 2026, marks the latest development in a turbulent period of corporate governance, boardroom maneuvering, and executive departures that has tested the resilience of one of the foundational companies of the modern web.
The appointment follows an intense week of corporate conflict that saw an attempted ouster of Automattic Chief Executive Officer Matt Mullenweg by members of the company’s board of directors. Although the boardroom coup briefly succeeded in removing Mullenweg and installing then-CFO Mark Davies as interim CEO, the power struggle ultimately backfired on its orchestrators. Mullenweg successfully reclaimed his position within roughly 33 hours, leading to the immediate departure of the board members who voted against him, alongside several high-ranking executives who aligned with the brief leadership shift.
As Automattic works to stabilize its operations, the company faces the complex task of rebuilding its board, filling permanent executive vacancies, and reassuring enterprise clients, partners, and the broader open-source community.
Chronology of a Corporate Crisis: The 33-Hour Power Struggle
The sequence of events leading to Klaperman’s appointment unfolded rapidly over a matter of days in early September 2026, catching the tech industry by surprise.
The crisis began when a faction of Automattic’s board of directors moved to strip Matt Mullenweg of his executive powers, forcing him into a leave of absence. During this brief window, Mark Davies, who was then serving as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, was elevated to the role of interim CEO. Concurrently, Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan and other administrative figures played key roles in navigating the sudden transition.
However, the rebellion was short-lived. Backed by key internal supporters and stakeholder leverage, Mullenweg rallied support and mounted a successful counter-effort. By September 12, Automattic officially confirmed that Mullenweg had returned to his position as CEO.
The fallout from the brief insurrection was swift. The board members who voted to oust Mullenweg were forced out of the company. Additionally, executives who had stepped into interim leadership roles during the 33-hour vacuum—namely Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan—departed Automattic entirely. Investigative reports later revealed that during Mullenweg’s brief absence, Davies and Missan had secured reciprocal severance agreements, adding legal complexity to an already tense corporate environment.
With Davies out, Automattic required immediate financial leadership to oversee its day-to-day operations, budget planning, and enterprise commitments.
Jeremy Klaperman Steps into the Interim Role
To maintain financial continuity, Mullenweg turned to a familiar internal figure: Jeremy Klaperman. As the CFO of WordPress VIP, Automattic’s lucrative enterprise-focused arm, Klaperman possesses deep institutional knowledge of the company’s revenue streams, operating costs, and client relationships. Furthermore, Klaperman is not entirely unfamiliar with the demands of the top corporate finance job, having previously stepped in as acting CFO when Davies took a sabbatical.
In his internal Slack announcement to employees, Mullenweg clarified that Klaperman’s current title is interim. The company’s reconstituted board of directors will ultimately be responsible for evaluating both internal and external candidates before making a permanent CFO appointment. However, given Klaperman’s familiarity with Automattic’s enterprise financial structures, his interim appointment is expected to provide a steady hand during a period of transition.
In the same communication, Mullenweg shared another milestone regarding executive recruitment: a candidate for the Chief Legal Officer position has verbally accepted the job, effectively stepping in to replace Andy Missan. The identity of the new legal chief is expected to be formally announced in the coming days.
Financial Health and Strategic Outlook
Amidst the leadership shuffle, Mullenweg sought to quell any anxieties regarding Automattic’s financial stability. The company manages vast infrastructure supporting a significant portion of the global internet, making financial transparency vital for enterprise clients who rely on WordPress VIP and WooCommerce for mission-critical e-commerce and publishing operations.
"I have 100% confidence in our cash and financial position," Mullenweg wrote in his address to employees. He emphasized that while organizational restructuring takes time, the company’s destiny rests entirely in its own hands. "There is still work to do, but everything is within our control and depends only on Automattic’s ability to execute."
Automattic’s business model spans multiple tiers, ranging from free, open-source software downloads to managed hosting, commercial plugins, and high-end enterprise digital experience platforms. The financial health of the enterprise unit, spearheaded by Klaperman’s past leadership, remains a critical pillar for the company’s revenue generation.
Rebuilding the Board of Directors
The most pressing institutional hurdle facing Automattic is the reconstitution of its board of directors. The departures of the board members who engineered the September coup have left significant vacancies at the highest level of corporate oversight.
Mullenweg has advised employees to "stay tuned" for official announcements regarding the new board appointments. While the full roster of incoming directors has not yet been made public, some continuity remains. Stephen Wolfram, the creator of Wolfram|Alpha and a noted scientist and technologist who serves as a special advisor, will maintain his position on the board.
The newly formed board is expected to hold its next official meeting on September 23, 2026. This upcoming gathering will likely set the strategic agenda for the final quarter of the year, address corporate governance reforms, and formalize executive search processes for the permanent CFO and legal chief roles.
Broader Implications for Automattic and the Open-Source Ecosystem
The events of September 2026 represent one of the most severe governance crises in Automattic’s history. Since its founding in 2005 by Matt Mullenweg—who co-created WordPress in 2003—the company has grown into a titan of the digital publishing landscape. Automattic’s software powers over 40% of the top 10 million websites globally, giving the company immense influence over web standards, hosting, and content management.
Corporate governance experts note that founder-led private companies often experience friction when boards attempt to assert traditional corporate oversight, particularly in organizations with strong ideological commitments to open-source software and decentralized web development. The rapid failure of the board’s ouster attempt underscores the unique authority Mullenweg wields within the company, both through structural safeguards and deep-rooted community loyalty.
However, the episode also highlights the vulnerabilities associated with rapid executive turnover. Enterprise clients purchasing high-end WordPress VIP services or scaling large e-commerce operations on WooCommerce require long-term stability and predictable leadership. By swiftly elevating trusted insiders like Klaperman and securing commitments from incoming legal counsel, Automattic is attempting to signal to the market that its day-to-day operations remain insulated from boardroom politics.
As Automattic approaches its September 23 board meeting, the tech industry will be watching closely to see who joins the governing body and how the company charts its course through the remainder of 2026 and beyond. For now, with Jeremy Klaperman managing the financial ledger and Mullenweg firmly back at the helm, the immediate crisis has subsided, leaving the company focused on execution, stability, and growth.
