Will Lewis, chief executive officer of The Washington Post, stepped down on Saturday, just days after the newspaper announced sweeping layoffs that affected roughly one-third of its newsroom.
In an email sent to staff, Lewis said that after two years of internal transformation, “now is the right time for me to step aside.” The Post confirmed that Chief Financial Officer Jeff D’Onofrio has assumed the role on an interim basis, effective immediately.
Layoffs deepen crisis at the Post
The announcement follows mass layoffs revealed earlier this week. While the newspaper did not disclose exact figures, The New York Times reported that about 300 of the Post’s 800 journalists lost their jobs.
The cuts went further than many staff members expected. Management shut down the sports section, eliminated the photography department, and sharply reduced coverage of Washington’s metropolitan area and international news. Neither Lewis nor owner Jeff Bezos attended the staff meeting where executives announced the layoffs.
The Post has struggled in recent years with declining subscriptions and talent departures. Critics point to Bezos’ decision during the 2024 presidential campaign to withdraw a planned endorsement of Kamala Harris and later shift the opinion section in a more conservative direction.
Bezos faces growing pressure from staff and critics
Martin Baron, the Post’s former executive editor under Bezos, accused the billionaire of trying to “curry favour with President Trump” and described the current turmoil as “near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction.”
Lewis, a former senior executive at The Wall Street Journal, took over as CEO in January 2024. His tenure included multiple rounds of layoffs and a failed reorganisation that led to the exit of then–executive editor Sally Buzbee.
In his farewell message, Lewis defended his record and praised Bezos, calling him “an exceptional owner.” The Washington Post Guild rejected that assessment, saying Lewis’ departure was long overdue and urging Bezos to reverse the layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.
Bezos did not mention Lewis in his own statement. Instead, he expressed confidence in D’Onofrio, saying the Post has “an essential journalistic mission” and must follow reader data to guide its next chapter.
D’Onofrio acknowledged the uncertainty ahead in a note to staff, describing the moment as difficult but insisting the organisation can adapt and survive in a rapidly changing media landscape.
