Will Lewis stepped down Saturday as publisher and CEO of The Washington Post, days after the newspaper announced sweeping layoffs.
Owner Jeff Bezos was angry that Lewis planned to attend Super Bowl events in the Bay Area while cuts were underway, according to a report.
Lewis announced his departure in a brief email to staff, according to The Associated Press, which reported the move came three days after the paper said it would lay off one-third of its staff.
The Post named its chief financial officer, Jeff D'Onofrio, as acting publisher.
Mediaite, citing a Financial Times report, said one newsroom source described Bezos' reaction to Lewis' Super Bowl week trip as "the last straw."
The Financial Times reported that senior Post managers were angry when they learned Lewis was attending Super Bowl-related events around the time job cuts became public, with one source describing the optics as "callous."
The Post's layoffs eliminated its sports section and reduced or ended some coverage areas, including book coverage and some foreign reporting positions, according to AP reporting carried by The Washington Post.
Mediaite also pointed to newsroom frustration tied to the FBI search of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's home and the seizure of her devices, saying the Financial Times described Lewis as failing to "rally behind" her.
However, Lewis reportedly issued a statement backing Natanson and calling the search an "outrageous action."
D'Onofrio joined the Post as CFO in June 2025 and previously held leadership roles at Raptive, Tumblr, Google, and other companies, according to a Washington Post corporate announcement.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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