Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, and others, has initiated layoffs, with insiders indicating that further cuts are anticipated. Over the past week, the layoffs have affected various teams, including communications, social media, WordPress.com, and its VIP enterprise business.
Context
These layoffs come amid significant turmoil at Automattic, which is still recovering from a failed attempt to oust CEO Matt Mullenweg in September. This incident led to a complete turnover of the board and the departure of several executives, including the CFO, interim CFO, and Chief Legal Officer.
Megan Fox, Automattic’s Director of Communications, announced her departure on LinkedIn, describing it as an "unexpected end" and stating that her role had been "eliminated."
Recent Developments
Following reports of the departure of interim CFO Jeremy Klaperman earlier this month, Mullenweg suggested on X that Klaperman may have been "offended" by the company's decision to seek external candidates for the role. Internally, Mullenweg had reportedly asked Klaperman to reconsider his departure.
