Josepha Haden Chomphosy, Executive Director of the WordPress Project, has officially announced her resignation, concluding a nine-year tenure. This announcement follows shortly after Matt Mullenweg initiated a contentious campaign against a managed WordPress host, which subsequently filed a federal lawsuit against him and Automattic.
She shared a positive message on her personal blog, emphasizing her confidence in the open source community’s economic impact and the value of strong yet flexible opinions.
She expressed:
"This week marks my last as the Executive Director of the WordPress project. My time with WordPress has transformed me, both as a leader and an advocate. There’s still more to do in our shared quest to secure a self-sustaining future of the open source project that we all love, and my belief in our global community of contributors remains unchanged.
…I still believe that open source is an idea that can transform generations. I believe in the power of a good-hearted group of people. I believe in the importance of strong opinions, loosely held. And I believe the world will always need the more equitable opportunities that well-maintained open source can provide: access to knowledge and learning, easy-to-join peer and business networks, the amplification of unheard voices, and a chance to tap into economic opportunity for those who weren’t born into it."
Turmoil At WordPress
Her resignation occurs in the context of a dispute between WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg and the managed WordPress web host WP Engine, resulting in significant unrest within the WordPress community, including a federal lawsuit from WP Engine accusing Mullenweg of attempted extortion.
Resignation News Was Leaked
The resignation news was leaked on October 2nd by the founder of a WordPress news site, who tweeted after speaking with Josepha that evening, confirming her resignation.
He posted:
"I spoke with Josepha tonight. I can confirm that she’s no longer at Automattic. She’s working on a statement for the community. She’s in good spirits despite the turmoil."
Screenshot Of Deleted Tweet
A tweet by Josepha the following day read:
"Ok, this is not how I expected that news to come to y’all. I apologize that this is the first many of you heard of it. Please don’t speculate about anything."
Rocky Period For WordPress
While her resignation was anticipated by some, it remains significant due to recent developments at WordPress, including the departure of 8.4% of Automattic employees following an offer of a generous severance package to those wishing to leave.
Read the official announcement:
Thank you, WordPress
Featured Image by Shutterstock/Wirestock Creators
