Automattic Starts Layoffs Amid Executive Departures and Turmoil
TL;DR
- Automattic has begun cutting staff across several divisions.
- The layoffs follow a failed board attempt to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg.
- Insiders indicate further reductions are planned to strengthen finances.
Automattic, the parent organization behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Tumblr, has initiated workforce reductions. Insiders report that additional cuts may occur as the firm works to enhance its financial standing.
The reductions have impacted areas such as communications, social media, WordPress.com, and the VIP enterprise division over recent weeks. According to a company spokesperson, organizational changes are being staggered to provide generous severance terms.
These staff reductions follow executive departures and leadership turmoil, which included a failed board effort to remove CEO Matt Mullenweg. That September conflict resulted in a total board turnover along with the exits of the chief financial officer, interim chief financial officer, and chief legal officer.
Why It Matters
As Automattic owns major web infrastructure platforms like WordPress.com and WooCommerce, widespread workforce reductions and leadership changes at the parent company carry significant implications for the global digital publishing and e-commerce ecosystems utilized by businesses worldwide.
Oct 21, 2026 · Updated 10/28/2026, 10:38:58 PM · Reported with: TechCrunch Layoffs
Sources (1)
NRI Bytes writes its own articles from the reporting below.
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