Automattic Appoints Jeremy Klaperman as Interim CFO Following Executive Shakeup and Boardroom Turmoil

Automattic, the parent company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Tumblr, has named Jeremy Klaperman as its interim Chief Financial Officer. Klaperman previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for WordPress VIP, Automattic’s enterprise-focused business unit. The leadership transition, communicated internally to employees via Slack on Friday, September 18, 2026, marks the latest development in a turbulent period for the web infrastructure giant following an attempted boardroom coup earlier in the month.

The appointment comes in the wake of a dramatic executive reshuffle that briefly removed CEO and co-founder Matt Mullenweg from his position, ignited a scramble for control at the highest levels of the company, and resulted in the departure of several top-tier executives. As Automattic works to stabilize its operations and rebuild its leadership ranks, the company faces critical governance decisions ahead of an upcoming board meeting scheduled for late September.

Main Facts of the Leadership Transition

Jeremy Klaperman steps into the interim CFO role immediately, filling the vacancy left by former CFO Mark Davies. Davies exited the company following the collapse of an effort by members of Automattic’s board of directors to oust Mullenweg. Klaperman is not unfamiliar with the financial helm of the broader organization; he previously handled CFO duties during periods when Davies was on sabbatical.

While Klaperman takes over financial operations on an interim basis, Mullenweg noted in his internal communications that the board will evaluate both internal and external candidates before making a permanent appointment. The composition of that evaluating body, however, remains in flux. Following the failed ouster, the board members who voted against Mullenweg stepped down, leaving vacant seats that have yet to be officially filled.

In tandem with the CFO announcement, Mullenweg revealed that a candidate for the position of Chief Legal Officer had verbally accepted the role. This incoming legal chief will replace former Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan, who also departed the company alongside Davies in the aftermath of the executive crisis.

Despite the high-level turnover, Mullenweg sought to project absolute stability to the workforce. In his concluding remarks on Slack, he wrote, “I have 100% confidence in our cash and financial position,” adding that while operational challenges remain, “everything is within our control and depends only on Automattic’s ability to execute.”

Chronology of the Crisis

The events leading to Klaperman’s appointment unfolded at a breakneck pace over a span of less than a week in September 2026, catching the broader tech industry by surprise.

• September 9, 2026: Automattic’s board of directors forces CEO Matt Mullenweg into a sudden leave of absence, effectively attempting to oust him from leadership. Mark Davies, the company’s CFO at the time, is elevated to interim CEO.
• September 10–11, 2026: During Mullenweg’s brief absence, interim CEO Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan reportedly execute reciprocal severance agreements, a move that later draws intense scrutiny regarding corporate governance during leadership crises.
• September 12, 2026: Just 33 hours after the initial maneuver, Automattic confirms that Mullenweg has successfully returned as CEO. The board members who orchestrated the coup are ousted, resulting in their immediate departure from the company. Davies and Missan subsequently leave Automattic.
• September 16, 2026: Reports emerge detailing the reciprocal severance deals signed by Davies and Missan during the brief leadership vacuum.
• September 18, 2026: Mullenweg announces Jeremy Klaperman as interim CFO via Slack and shares that a new Chief Legal Officer has verbally accepted the position. He also notes that special advisor and Wolfram|Alpha creator Stephen Wolfram will remain on the advisory board.
• September 23, 2026: Automattic is scheduled to hold its next board meeting, where new board members and governance updates are expected to be addressed.

Supporting Data and Corporate Context

Automattic operates as a massive force in the digital publishing and e-commerce ecosystems. Powering a significant portion of the entire internet through its open-source WordPress software, the company employs over 1,900 people globally across a fully distributed workforce. Its commercial arms, including WordPress.com for hosted publishing, WooCommerce for online retail, and WordPress VIP for enterprise-grade solutions, handle billions of dollars in transactions and content delivery daily.

The financial health of Automattic has historically been robust, fueled by enterprise contracts, premium subscriptions, and acquisitions such as Tumblr and Longreads. However, the company has also navigated complex operational transformations as it scales its enterprise footprint and manages diverse open-source communities. The sudden departure of a sitting CFO and Chief Legal Officer simultaneously represents a rare administrative shock for a private company of Automattic’s scale, making Klaperman’s familiarity with WordPress VIP a strategic asset for maintaining financial continuity.

Furthermore, the involvement of Stephen Wolfram—renowned scientist, programmer, and creator of Mathematica and Wolfram|Alpha—as a special advisor provides a degree of continuity on the advisory front while the core board is reconstituted.

Official Responses and Internal Communication

Throughout the ordeal, Mullenweg has utilized direct communication channels with Automattic employees to maintain transparency and control the narrative. By bypassing traditional public relations statements in favor of internal Slack updates, Mullenweg has sought to reassure the company’s distributed workforce that core business operations remain insulated from boardroom politics.

The revelation of the reciprocal severance deals signed by Davies and Missan during the brief 33-hour window of leadership change highlighted potential vulnerabilities in corporate oversight during sudden executive transitions. Legal and governance experts note that such clauses, enacted hastily during a contested power struggle, often invite intense regulatory and shareholder scrutiny, which likely accelerated the permanent exits of Davies and Missan once Mullenweg regained control.

While official statements from the departed board members have been limited, the swiftness of their exit underscores the decisive nature of Mullenweg’s counter-offensive. The upcoming September 23 board meeting is anticipated to provide formal clarity regarding the new roster of directors who will oversee Automattic’s next chapter.

Broader Impact and Industry Implications

The leadership drama at Automattic carries wider implications for the open-source community, enterprise clients, and the broader tech sector. WordPress is the backbone of roughly 40% of the top 10 million websites, making any internal instability at its parent company a matter of global digital concern.

For enterprise clients utilizing WordPress VIP—the unit previously managed by new interim CFO Klaperman—continuity in financial and legal oversight is paramount. Major brands, media conglomerates, and government entities rely on Automattic’s infrastructure for daily publishing and security updates. Klaperman’s background in managing the financial operations of the enterprise division provides a reassuring signal to commercial partners that enterprise-level commitments will not be disrupted by the corporate shakeup.

At the same time, the incident serves as a modern case study in founder-board dynamics within private technology companies. As startups mature and raise capital from institutional investors, the balance of power between visionary founders and corporate boards frequently faces friction. Mullenweg’s successful resistance and rapid reclamation of authority demonstrate the enduring influence of original leadership in companies where the founder maintains deep cultural and operational ties.

As Automattic moves past the immediate crisis, the immediate focus turns to the September 23 board meeting. With an interim CFO in place, a new Chief Legal Officer on the horizon, and impending announcements regarding the composition of the new board, the company aims to put the turbulence behind it and refocus entirely on product execution, market expansion, and supporting its vast global ecosystem of developers and publishers.