Jamie Marsland has been tapped to join Automattic as their WordPress.org team’s Head of WordPress YouTube.
In an announcement on WordPress.org, WordPress Executive Director Josepha Haden Chomphosy said Marsland had taken over the management of the WordPress YouTube channel, describing him as the “ideal person to lead our efforts in expanding and enhancing our YouTube presence.”
“With over a decade of experience working with WordPress and training others, Jamie brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this role,” said Haden Chomphosy. “He will oversee the creation of high-quality content, ensuring our channel remains a valuable resource and a source of inspiration for WordPress enthusiasts worldwide while inspiring and empowering other open source content creators to further the movement.”
Since 2023, the WordPress YouTube channel had experienced a six times increase in monthly views and engagement, driven by the growing availability of WordPress content, according to Haden Chomphosy. This increase is largely due to WordPress.tv syncing with the channel in October 2022, and more recently the addition of Learn WordPress tutorials. The WordPress project has also joined the YouTube Nonprofit Program, removing ads from all videos.
In his own announcement on X, Marsland said he was thrilled to join Automattic.
“It’s a true privilege to help share your WordPress stories and showcase the incredible work you are all doing,” he said. “So if you’re working on anything new, exciting, empowering, cutting-edge, inspiring, helpful, revolutionary, fun, or game-changing, I want to hear from you. 😉”
In a further post on X, Marsland said he would be sharing the story behind his appointment as well as his plans for the WordPress YouTube channel on a new podcast, WordPress Unplugged, which he’ll be launching soon. He has since teased that he’ll be joined by a “controversial” male co-host.
Marsland is seemingly an overnight success, 10 years in the making. Known for his fun, upbeat and polished videos, he published his first tutorial on YouTube a decade ago. In recent years he has become something of a Gutenberg evangelist, publishing entertaining videos to help users learn how to use blocks and full site editing.
Marsland first gained attention with his recreations of big-brand websites using Gutenberg in just 30 minutes, before launching his popular speed build challenges in April. The format pits WordPress pros against each other during a live-streamed 30-minute showdown. WordCamp Europe 2024 attendees got to experience it live when Automattic’s Rich Tabor battled it out against Twenty Twenty-Four theme developer Jessica Lyschik to recreate the the Noguchi Museum’s website.
WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg has made no secret of the fact he’s a big fan of Marsland’s work, calling out his YouTube channel and speed build challenge twice during his mid year update at WordCamp Europe 2024. During Mullenweg’s Q&A at WordCamp Europe, Lyschik challenged him to a speed build challenge, which he accepted.
Acknowledging Marsland’s new role this week, Mullenweg posted, “Our videos are going to be so much better now. :)”
Other WordPress folks have also heaped praise on Marsland this week, with Emilia Capital co-founder Joost de Valk posting, “This is an amazing move for WordPress. Congrats to everyone involved 😀”
Pressable VP of Operations Jessica Frick posted, “This is HUGE! Congrats all around and especially to the community — with you in this role, the entire project is going to benefit from your awesome videos. 🎉”
Web designer Roy Hornsby posted, “I’ll echo many previous comments and say congratulations, much deserved. You simplify WordPress and take the absurdity out of the commentary promulgated by so many other pundits. Well done.”
In Post Status Slack, Jeff Chandler posted, “Make us all proud @jamie marsland.”
In what may have been a precursor to his new role, Marsland partnered with WordPress.com in March for Build and Beyond, a video series designed to help users push the boundaries of what’s possible with WordPress.
Unlike most people who join Automattic and are asked to give up work that conflicts with their new role, Marsland is keeping his popular YouTube channel, which recently surpassed 100,000 subscribers, up from 40,000 in May. He also plans to continue maintaining the six plugins he sells through his content, course and plugin company, Pootlepress.