Washington Post publisher Will Lewis resigns just days after paper enacts mass layoffs
Washington Post CEO Resigns After Staff Layoffs
Will Lewis, the CEO and publisher of the Washington Post, has stepped down just days after the newspaper laid off a significant portion of its staff. In a message to employees shared on social media, Lewis cited the need for a leadership change after two years of transformation within the organization.
Acknowledging the tough decisions made during his tenure to ensure the Post’s sustainability and commitment to delivering high-quality nonpartisan news, Lewis expressed gratitude towards Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos for his support and leadership.
Following Lewis’s resignation, the Post announced that Jeff D’Onofrio, the current chief financial officer and former CEO of Tumblr, would take on the role of acting publisher immediately. The newspaper did not specifically mention Lewis in their statement.
The recent layoffs at the Post, which included scaling back foreign news coverage and discontinuing some sections like sports, were met with criticism from employees. Executive editor Matt Murray’s announcement of the layoffs on a Zoom call sparked controversy as Lewis was reportedly absent from the meeting.
Murray emphasized that the restructuring was necessary to position the Post for success in a rapidly changing media landscape. The layoffs affected approximately one-third of the newsroom staff, according to a Post spokesperson.
Former executive editor Martin Baron also weighed in on the Post’s recent editorial decisions, including the controversial move not to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election. Baron criticized the leadership for damaging the paper’s reputation and pointed fingers at Bezos for prioritizing his other ventures over the Post.
