The Washington Post announced Saturday that CEO Will Lewis is stepping down, ending a controversial tenure marked by financial strain, newsroom unrest and sweeping staff reductions.
Lewis’ resignation comes on the heels of a dramatic round of layoffs that eliminated hundreds of journalism positions as the storied newspaper continues to grapple with economic challenges facing the broader media industry. The cuts intensified long-simmering tensions between Lewis and Post employees, many of whom had criticized his leadership style and lack of connection with the newsroom.
In conjunction with Lewis’s departure, the Post named Jeff D’Onofrio as acting publisher and CEO. D’Onofrio joined the organization in 2025 as chief financial officer and previously held roles at Raptive, Tumblr, and Google. In his first message to staff, D’Onofrio acknowledged the difficulty of recent changes and emphasized a commitment to long-term stability with the paper’s journalism at the center of its mission.
Lewis’ leadership had drawn increasing scrutiny in recent months, not only for the financial decisions made under his watch but also for perceptions of disengagement. Newsroom frustration grew after a photograph surfaced showing Lewis attending a Super Bowl-related event shortly after the layoffs were announced, fueling criticism that he was out of step with staff concerns.
The Post has also faced internal strain stemming from owner Jeff Bezos’ directives on the opinion section, which, combined with management turmoil, has contributed to a growing talent exodus and further business complications.
Lewis came to The Washington Post after founding and leading The News Movement, a social media-focused news venture, and previously serving as CEO of Dow Jones, the parent company of The Wall Street Journal. His resignation marks a major leadership transition at a time when the Post is attempting to redefine its strategy and regain financial footing.
Bezos, in a statement, reaffirmed the paper’s central role in American journalism and pointed to opportunities ahead, highlighting the importance of responding to reader needs and using data to guide future focus.
Source: Axios