Washington Post Names Jeff D'Onofrio Acting CEO After Layoffs

The Washington Post has appointed Jeff D’Onofrio as its acting publisher and chief executive officer following the resignation of Will Lewis, a leadership change that comes days after mass layoffs across the organisation.

The transition places D’Onofrio in charge at a time when the newsroom is facing financial strain, staff reductions, and internal scrutiny.

Will Lewis stepped down from his role after overseeing job cuts that affected hundreds of employees, including a significant portion of the editorial workforce.

The layoffs were part of a broader effort to reduce costs as the Post continues to grapple with declining digital subscriptions, reduced advertising revenue, and rising operational expenses. Lewis said his decision to resign was taken in the interest of the publication’s long-term stability.

• The Washington Post names Jeff D’Onofrio acting CEO after layoffs
• Jeff D’Onofrio takes interim charge as Washington Post faces financial strain
• Leadership change follows newsroom cuts and Will Lewis’s resignation

D’Onofrio, who had been serving as the Post’s chief financial officer, now assumes the dual role on an interim basis. He joined the organisation in 2025 and has been closely involved in financial planning, restructuring efforts, and revenue strategy. His elevation signals a focus on business continuity and fiscal discipline during a period of transition.

Before joining the Post, D’Onofrio built a career across media and technology companies. He previously held senior roles at Google and Yahoo and later served as chief executive of Tumblr. At Tumblr, he was involved in strategic changes aimed at repositioning the platform, including policy decisions that reshaped its content ecosystem and business direction.

Inside the Washington Post newsroom, the leadership change has drawn mixed reactions. Staff members have expressed concern about morale, workload, and the impact of the layoffs on coverage capacity, while management has emphasised the need to align costs with revenue realities.

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As acting publisher and CEO, D’Onofrio is expected to oversee ongoing restructuring, manage relations with staff and unions, and work with ownership on defining the paper’s next phase. The appointment underscores the challenges facing legacy news organisations as they adjust to changing audience habits, competitive digital markets, and sustained financial pressure.