Washington Post Publisher and CEO Will Lewis Steps Down Following Layoffs

Will Lewis has stepped down as publisher and CEO of The Washington Post following significant layoffs that affected nearly one-third of the staff. His resignation comes just days after the job cuts, which included the complete elimination of the sports department. Jeff D’Onofrio, who has served as the CFO of The Washington Post since June 2022, will take over Lewis' role effective immediately. Lewis stated, “After two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the right time for me to step aside.” During his two-year tenure, Lewis faced criticism from both subscribers and employees as he attempted to reverse the financial losses experienced by the outlet. His management style and decisions were described as contentious, leading to dissatisfaction among various stakeholders. The layoffs and subsequent leadership change have raised questions about the future direction of the publication. D’Onofrio, who previously held the position of CEO at Tumblr from 2017 to 2022, has limited experience in traditional news media. His background includes a brief tenure as general manager of Yahoo News while it was under Verizon ownership. As he steps into the role of acting CEO and publisher, he will be tasked with navigating the challenges facing The Washington Post amid ongoing financial pressures and restructuring efforts.