'Washington Post' CEO resigns after going AWOL during massive job cuts

Washington Post CEO Will Lewis has resigned after a tumultuous two-year tenure marked by significant job cuts and controversy. The newspaper's CFO, Jeff D'Onofrio, will serve as acting CEO. Lewis's departure comes just days after over a third of the newsroom was laid off, following years of substantial financial losses. Lewis was notably absent during the announcement of these layoffs, with reports placing him at an NFL event the following day. Journalists had previously appealed to owner Jeff Bezos to address the paper's financial instability, but these pleas went unanswered. The extensive layoffs resulted in the elimination of the sports desk, a drastic reduction in local news staff, and the decimation of the international desk, with some journalists losing their jobs while in war zones. The paper is expected to rely heavily on stringers to maintain its global presence. Jeff Bezos, who purchased The Post in 2013, expressed confidence in the paper's future and its "essential journalistic mission." He highlighted the importance of reader data in guiding the paper's focus. D'Onofrio, the new CEO, emphasized the newspaper's legacy and his commitment to securing its future. Lewis's tenure was also shadowed by past controversies from his career in British journalism. The paper's editorial page underwent a significant shift in focus, leading to subscriber cancellations and the resignation of its editor. Despite these challenges, Bezos maintains that his business interests do not influence his stewardship of The Post.