Due to his continuing legal battle with hosting business WP Engine, Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, has been under growing pressure to resign from his position. But instead of thinking about leaving, he is certain about his plan for the company’s future, stressing the value of a single, committed leader over committee-based governance.

In a recent appearance on Lenny’s Podcast, Mullenweg revisited his dispute with WP Engine, a company he believes has benefited significantly from WordPress’s open-source model without making adequate contributions back to the project or its community. As the battle unfolds, he remains committed to defending the integrity of WordPress, which powers a vast portion of the internet.

Beyond the legal dispute, Mullenweg offered his opinions on Automattic’s and WordPress’s long-term leadership. He sees a successor who will be a committed custodian of the WordPress ecosystem taking over instead of handing over authority to a board or other group that makes decisions. He likened the role to that of a mayor, who must balance the needs of developers, contributors, and customers while upholding the core values of open-source innovation.

The co-founder also mentioned how WordPress.com has exposed more than 100 million people to the program, underscoring Automattic’s pivotal role in growing WordPress adoption. Mullenweg is still excited about the hybrid approach that Automattic has pioneered, which combines open-source ideals with a viable commercial plan.

“What once seemed controversial—open-source collaboration and distributed work—has now become the standard for modern startups and digital ecosystems,” he noted, reflecting on the evolution of the industry.

Despite external pressures and ongoing disputes, Mullenweg continues to chart a course for WordPress’s future, reinforcing its position as a leading force in web publishing while ensuring its community remains at the heart of decision-making.