Automattic names interim CFO after exec departures

In a significant leadership transition, Automattic has appointed Jeremy Klaperman as its interim Chief Financial Officer. Klaperman, who previously served as CFO for the company’s WordPress VIP Enterprise division, steps into the role following a tumultuous period marked by an attempted ousting of CEO Matt Mullenweg. This internal announcement came just days after Mullenweg reclaimed his position, which was briefly held by Mark Davies, the former CFO. Davies, along with other board members who voted against Mullenweg, has departed from the company. Mullenweg revealed in a Slack message that Klaperman had previously filled the CFO role during Davies' sabbatical. Looking ahead, Mullenweg noted that the newly formed board will assess both internal and external candidates for the permanent CFO position. He also mentioned that a candidate has verbally accepted the Chief Legal Officer role, succeeding Andy Missan, who also left the company. Reports indicate that Davies and Missan had negotiated severance packages during Mullenweg’s brief absence from his CEO role. Mullenweg expressed confidence in Automattic's financial stability, stating, "I have 100% confidence in our cash and financial position. There is still work to do, but everything is within our control and depends only on Automattic’s ability to execute." As the company prepares for its next board meeting on September 23, Mullenweg encouraged stakeholders to stay tuned for further announcements, while confirming that special advisor Stephen Wolfram, known for creating Wolfram|Alpha, will maintain his advisory role.