Josepha Haden Chomphosy has stepped down as the Executive Director of the WordPress Project after nine years. Her resignation comes shortly after a lawsuit was filed against Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress, by a managed WordPress hosting company called WP Engine.
In a personal blog post, Chomphosy reflected on her time with WordPress, showing gratitude for the community and reaffirming her belief in the power of open-source software.
Reflections on Her Time with WordPress
In her post, she wrote:
“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.”
She spoke about how open-source projects, like WordPress, offer fair opportunities, access to knowledge, and new economic chances for people who may not otherwise have them. She ended her post on a positive note, emphasizing the strength of the WordPress community.
Turmoil at WordPress
Chomphosy’s resignation comes at a time when WordPress is facing challenges. Recently, WP Engine sued Matt Mullenweg and Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com). This legal battle follows a public dispute between Mullenweg and WP Engine about managed hosting services.
Additionally, earlier this year, 8% of Automattic employees resigned after being offered a generous severance package, adding more uncertainty during this difficult period.
Resignation News Leaked
Although her resignation was expected by some, the news was leaked ahead of time. On October 2nd, the founder of WP Tavern (a WordPress news site owned by Mullenweg) tweeted that he had spoken with Chomphosy, who confirmed she was leaving her position.
In response to the early leak, Chomphosy tweeted the next day:
“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.”
The Legacy She Leaves Behind
Under her leadership, WordPress grew to power more than 43% of the web. Her focus on community-driven development and providing open access to technology has shaped the future of WordPress. Despite the challenges, the WordPress community continues to thrive thanks to her contributions.
