Automattic Appointed Interim Finance Chief

The company named Jeremy Klaperman as interim CFO following a round of executive departures.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in People

Automattic Appointed Interim Finance Chief

Live Poll

Does frequent turnover in a company's leadership team make you lose trust in its future stability?

Automattic has appointed Jeremy Klaperman as interim Chief Financial Officer. The move follows the recent departures of former CFO Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan.

Why it matters

The leadership shakeup comes in the wake of an attempted ouster of Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg. The company is now working to stabilize its executive ranks amid internal restructuring.

Jeremy Klaperman assumes the interim role while concurrently serving as CFO of the WordPress VIP Enterprise unit. The board plans to evaluate both internal and external candidates for a permanent CFO appointment.

The players

Jeremy Klaperman

He is the newly appointed interim Chief Financial Officer of Automattic who also oversees the WordPress VIP Enterprise unit.

Matt Mullenweg

He serves as the CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.

Mark Davies

He is the former Chief Financial Officer who previously served a 33-hour tenure as interim CEO.

Andy Missan

He recently departed from his role as the Chief Legal Officer at Automattic.

Stephen Wolfram

He is a noted scientist and technologist who serves as a special advisor to Automattic.

The details

Executive departures at the firm followed a period of instability that included CEO Matt Mullenweg taking a 33-hour leave of absence. A new Chief Legal Officer has verbally accepted the position vacated by Andy Missan.

September 11-12, 2026: Matt Mullenweg took a 33-hour leave of absence.
September 18, 2026: The interim CFO appointment was officially announced.
September 23, 2026: The company is scheduled to hold a board meeting.

Market Landscape

This leadership transition follows the pattern of instability set by the recent attempt to remove the CEO. Automattic must now navigate these executive changes to maintain continuity within the competitive software and web publishing market.

These executive changes may influence the strategic direction of WordPress VIP and other enterprise services used by businesses. Customers should monitor for potential updates regarding project roadmaps following the upcoming board meeting.

The takeaway

Companies undergoing sudden executive turnover often prioritize stability and internal review to reassure stakeholders. Investors and users should watch for the outcome of the next board meeting as a signal of the firm's long-term corporate governance strategy.