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Will Lewis Steps Down as Washington Post CEO After Staff Layoffs

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Will Lewis resigned as publisher and CEO of The Washington Post
  • Over 300 employees were laid off, about one-third of staff
  • Jeff D’Onofrio named interim publisher and CEO

The Washington Post experienced a leadership change following a reduction in staff numbers, with the chief executive and publisher stepping down. The appointment of an interim leader comes after the organization implemented workforce cuts.

Will Lewis ended his tenure as publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post. His departure followed a period during which the company laid off a substantial portion of its workforce, impacting more than 300 employees.

Jeff D’Onofrio, who had been serving as the chief financial officer, was appointed as interim publisher and CEO. This leadership transition took place shortly after the staff reductions were carried out.

Will Lewis had started his role as publisher and chief executive on January 2, 2024. His time in the position lasted just over two years before the recent changes in leadership.

What the numbers show

  • Over 300 employees were laid off at The Washington Post
  • Approximately one-third of the staff was affected
  • Will Lewis began as CEO on January 2, 2024
  • Jeff D’Onofrio became CFO in June 2025

The layoffs represented a significant reduction in the size of The Washington Post’s workforce. According to available figures, the number of employees affected accounted for about one-third of the company’s staff.

Jeff D’Onofrio had been appointed chief financial officer in June 2025, less than a year before assuming the interim leadership role. His responsibilities now include overseeing the organization during this transitional period.

The Washington Post’s decision to appoint an interim publisher and CEO followed both the staff reductions and the resignation of its previous top executive. The company has not announced a permanent replacement for the leadership position at this time.

The events mark a period of organizational change for The Washington Post, with both workforce adjustments and executive transitions occurring within a short timeframe. Further updates regarding permanent leadership appointments have not been provided.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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