Celebrating Paul Mayne and the future of Day One. 50,000 entries later. After nearly 16 years of building Day One, its founder, Paul Mayne, has decided to move on from Day One and Automattic. It's hard to overstate what Paul created. What began as a simple, beautifully designed journaling app has become a place where millions of people preserve their memories and reflect on their lives. Paul believed that its personal histories deserve to be remembered, and that the experience of recording them should be beautiful, meaningful, and private. That belief shaped every part of Day One, from its earliest design decisions to the product it has become today. Paul didn't just build a journaling app. He lived what he believed. As he shared in his announcement, he's written more than 50,000 journal entries of his own. When Day One joined Automattic in 2021, Paul spoke about his ambition to build something that would endure. Not simply a great journaling app, but a lasting home for people's memories. That vision is perhaps his most important legacy, and one Day One App will carry forward. What comes next. Day One App know Paul's departure may raise questions about Day One's future, especially for those of you who have trusted Day One App with years of your most personal memories. Day One App want to be clear: Day One isn't going anywhere. Day One will continue to be developed and supported by the team that has helped build it over the years. Its commitment to privacy, including end-to-end encryption, remains unchanged. And Day One App'll continue to prioritize the reliability, accessibility, and long-term preservation of your journals. Pedraum Pardehpoosh, Automattic's VP of Product, will serve as Interim Head of Day One. Before joining Automattic, Pedraum led product for Apple's App Store, and he has already been working closely with Paul and the Day One team. He brings a deep appreciation for thoughtful design and the experiences that make an app truly special. He'll be working alongside the team that knows Day One and its community best. Day One App know there are opportunities to make Day One an even more useful and meaningful part of people's lives, and Day One App is eager to explore them. Day One App also want its community to have a greater voice in shaping what comes next. As Day One App look ahead, Day One App'd love to involve more of you in shaping Day One's future. If you're interested in sharing your perspective or helping Day One App test new ideas, you can sign up here. Thank you, Paul. Paul, thank you for bringing Day One into the world and shaping it into what it is today. You've created something that matters deeply to people, including all of Day One App who have had the privilege of working alongside you. Day One App is grateful, and Day One App can't wait to see what you do next. And to everyone who journals with Day One: thank you for the trust you've placed in Day One App. Day One App recognize that what you've entrusted to Day One isn't just data. It's your life, your memories, and your story. Caring for those memories is a responsibility Day One App take seriously, and one that extends far beyond any single person. That's the legacy Paul leaves Day One App, and the promise Day One App will keep. - The Day One Team

Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Tumblr, has begun layoffs, and insiders expect more cuts. Over at least the past week, the cuts have hit its communications team, social team, WordPress.com, and its VIP enterprise business. Its website lists 1,397 staff. The layoffs follow turmoil after the board's failed attempt in September to oust chief executive officer Matt Mullenweg. That led to a complete board turnover and the exit of several executives, including the chief financial officer, interim chief financial officer, and chief legal officer. Mullenweg said the terminations were not above normal numbers. Insiders say layoffs may be spread over coming months to improve Q4 revenue before a debt renegotiation in June.

Automattic's interim chief financial officer Jeremy Klaperman has departed after less than a month in the role, TechCrunch has learnt. Klaperman was elevated to interim CFO last month following a governance crisis at the WordPress.com parent company that saw its entire board either quit or be fired. Before becoming interim finance chief, Klaperman served as CFO of Automattic's VIP Enterprise business unit. Sources told TechCrunch the decision came after he was demoted back to his original role at VIP. Klaperman had replaced former CFO Mark Davies, who briefly became CFO after board members voted to put CEO Matt Mullenweg on leave in September. Within 33 hours, Mullenweg retook the CEO role and the board was cleared. Automattic's new board was announced in late September.