Thank You, Josepha: WordPress Executive Director Resigns

Josepha Haden Chomphosy has stepped down from Automattic, where she served as the Executive Director of the WordPress project. She was also leading Automattic’s open-source division, championing the efforts of developers, designers, community builders, and WordPress advocates. She has now updated her title in the WordPress Slack to “Community Steward.”

Like Josepha, 159 employees left Automattic after accepting the Alignment Offer.

Rumors of her resignation first surfaced on X, to which she responded: “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.”

It's been a beautiful and transformative nine years, WordPress. I'm never at a loss for words, but let the main thing you hear be "Thank you"! https://t.co/lHTPNqwvkS
— Josepha’s AFK Today (@JosephaHaden) October 4, 2024

In a farewell post titled Thank you, WordPress, she expressed continued optimism for the future of the open-source project: “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 have spent nine years working shoulder to shoulder with you, and I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”

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.

She continued: “While my next steps aren’t yet clear, I hope to never be too far from this community that taught me so much.”

Josepha has been uncharacteristically silent since the onset of the Automattic-WP Engine controversy aside from a brief comment on Slack. Since joining WordPress in 2019, she was always actively involved in community discussions or controversies.

Community Response

Josepha always had a special place in the community’s heart and it was reflected in the messages that poured in following her announcement.

Josepha, we met when you became the #WordPress Training Team Rep. Watching you find your footing to being our executive director for so many years has had a profound impact on me. It has been an honor to work alongside you. Thank you. https://t.co/Ko3aDxlhak
— @courtneyr_dev (@courtneyr_dev) October 4, 2024

Josepha's leadership is one of the reasons I am an active contributor to WordPress. I am exceptionally pleased to have had the opportunity to work with her over the years. Good luck with whatever comes next, Josepha. https://t.co/5AyqhRNMOo
— Peter Wilson (@pwcc) October 4, 2024

Josepha you are a great leader. You have inspired so many of us.

Thank you for everything you had done for the community. It was great interacting with you on multiple occasions.

Hoping to cross paths with you again in the future.
— Meher Bala | WP Mumbai & WC Asia Organiser (@meherbala) October 5, 2024

Thank you, Josepha!

It’s been an absolute pleasure interacting with you over the years and I do hope you stay close to the project.

Either way, best of luck with whatever lies ahead.
— Remkus de Vries (@remkusdevries) October 5, 2024

I appreciate your ability to bring people together, to create safe and welcoming spaces, and to thoughtfully listen to and hear a wide variety of voices. I knew from the first time I met you that you were special. Thank you for all you've done for the community over the years…
— Brandon Dove (@brandondove) October 4, 2024

Thank you, Josepha, for all you’ve done for WordPress. We wish you the best in your future endeavors!