Will Lewis admits “tough decisions” were made during his rocky two-year tenure.

Washington Post CEO announces resignation days after newspaper publication Cut one-third of the workforce.

CEO and publisher Will Lewis shared the decision in a message to staff on Saturday, which was later posted on the X by the paper’s White House bureau chief.

“After two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the perfect time for me to resign,” Lewis said.

The Washington Post, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, said Chief Financial Officer Jeff D’Onofrio will take over the role immediately.

Lewis’s two-year tenure at the influential US newspaper was marked by turmoil, including multiple rounds of layoffs and Questions about editorial independence. Those concerns intensified after the publication announced the news Will not endorse the 2024 PresidentCritics said the move was aimed at appeasing then-candidate Donald Trump.

The decision resulted in the Post losing hundreds of thousands of subscribers and about $100 million in lost revenue in 2024.

Lewis is also being closely watched in 2024 for trying to win over his former colleagues.British journalist Robert Winnett serves as chief editor after reports emerged that some of his past reporting relied on fraudulently obtained records. Wynette ultimately did not accept the role.

Lewis missed a staff meeting last week where employees were told they would be notified via email whether they would lose their jobs. Hundreds of journalists were laid off, including the paper’s entire Middle East roster and its correspondent in Kiev, Ukraine.

In a letter to staff, Lewis said “difficult decisions” had been made under his leadership to ensure the paper’s long-term sustainability.

“The destruction of great American journalism”

The Washington Post Association, the union that represents employees, said Lewis’ exit was long overdue.

“His legacy will be one of trying to destroy a great American news organization,” the association said in a statement. “But it’s not too late to save The Washington Post. Jeff Bezos must immediately cancel these layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.”

Bezos made no mention of Lewis in his statement announcing D’Onofrio as publisher and said new leadership would lead the paper into an “exciting and thriving new chapter.”

“The Washington Post has an important journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity,” Bezos said. “Every day, our readers provide us with a road map to success. Data tells us what is valuable and where to focus.”