Washington Post publisher and chief executive Will Lewis is stepping down, the newspaper announced on Saturday, days after carrying out sweeping layoffs that cut about one-third of its workforce.
In a message to staff shared online by White House bureau chief Matt Viser, Lewis said he had made “difficult decisions” to secure the newspaper’s long-term sustainability and ensure it could continue publishing high-quality, nonpartisan journalism.
Lewis, a former chief executive of Dow Jones and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, was appointed in 2023 as the Post grappled with heavy financial losses. He succeeded Fred Ryan, who led the newspaper for nearly a decade.
The Post said chief financial officer Jeff D’Onofrio will serve as acting publisher and CEO. D’Onofrio joined the organisation last June after holding senior roles at Google and Yahoo. In an email to staff, he said future decisions would be guided by customer data to better serve audiences.
Unions representing Post employees welcomed Lewis’s departure. The Washington Post Guild said his exit was “long overdue,” accusing him of damaging a major American journalism institution and urging owner Jeff Bezos to reverse the layoffs or sell the paper.
Bezos, who purchased the Post in 2013, described the leadership change as an “extraordinary opportunity,” saying readers provide a clear roadmap for the newspaper’s future.
Lewis faced sharp criticism for his absence during Wednesday’s layoffs. Former executive editor Marty Baron called the cuts “among the darkest days” in the Post’s history.
Lewis’s tenure was marked by repeated staff reductions, subscriber losses following the end of presidential endorsements, and internal turmoil, including newsroom backlash over leadership decisions. His proposed “third newsroom” initiative never materialised.
Former Wall Street Journal editor Matt Murray later became executive editor, replacing Sally Buzbee, who now serves as Reuters’ US and Canada news editor.
