Automattic, Owner of WordPress, Loses Its Interim CFO

Jeremy Klaperman left his position as interim CFO of Automattic, the owner of WordPress, less than a month after taking on the role in September, according to TechCrunch, citing a source familiar with the matter.

The report stated that Klaperman was dissatisfied with the board considering external candidates for the permanent role, and that the board had not legally approved his job title. The company has not issued any official clarification regarding these details.

The report described a dispute between Klaperman and CEO Matt Mullenweg over a project related to a performance review. Automattic declined to explain the reason for the departure, stating that it is still searching for a permanent CFO from outside the company.

The departure comes after changes to the company's board of directors, while the search for a permanent CFO continues. Automattic operates the WordPress platform, one of the most widely used content management systems in the world, alongside other services.

What do these terms mean?

Chief Financial Officer (CFO): The executive responsible for managing the company's finances, budgeting, and financial reporting.

Interim Position: Assigning a person the duties of a role on a temporary basis until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Board of Directors: The body that oversees the management of the company and makes major decisions on behalf of shareholders.

Content Management System (CMS): Software used to create, publish, and manage web content without needing programming.