Will Lewis, publisher and CEO of The Washington Post, poses for a portrait in Washington, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post via AP, File)
Will Lewis has stepped down as publisher and chief executive of the Washington Post, just days after the newspaper announced deep staff cuts that affected nearly one-third of its workforce, including more than 300 journalists, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
Lewis, who took charge of the newspaper in early 2024, announced his decision in an email to staff on Saturday evening. His exit comes amid internal criticism over the scale of the layoffs and his absence from a staff meeting where the cuts were explained.
“After two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the right time for me to step aside,” Lewis wrote in the message, according to AP. He thanked the paper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, saying the organisation “could not have a better owner”.
Lewis defended decisions taken during his tenure, saying they were aimed at securing the paper’s future. “Difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post,” he said.
The newspaper has struggled financially in recent years as readership and advertising revenue declined.
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Jeff D’Onofrio, who joined the Post as chief financial officer in June, has been appointed acting publisher and chief executive. In a memo to staff, he said the media industry was facing pressure but expressed confidence in the paper’s future.
“This is a challenging time across all media organisations,” D’Onofrio wrote. “I’m honoured to take the helm as acting publisher and CEO.”
Bezos, who has owned the Post since 2013, issued a brief statement highlighting the paper’s mission but did not refer directly to Lewis’s leadership. He said the publication had “an essential journalistic mission” and strong leadership going forward.
Lewis’s departure was welcomed by some current and former staff. The union representing most Post employees said his exit was “long overdue” and urged Bezos to reverse the layoffs or sell the newspaper.
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Lewis previously led the Wall Street Journal and has held senior roles at several media organisations.
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Will Lewis, publisher and CEO of The Washington Post, poses for a portrait in Washington, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post via AP, File) 
