Jeff D’Onofrio Becomes Permanent Publisher and CEO of The Washington Post

Jeff D’Onofrio has been confirmed as the newspaper’s publisher and chief executive officer, formalizing the role he has filled in an acting capacity since February. He succeeds Will Lewis, who stepped down after a wave of layoffs that cut roughly one-third of the newsroom staff. The appointment comes as the paper prepares to mark its 150th anniversary next year.

Bloomberg

The Post has endured a period of political and financial strain, including owner Jeff Bezos’ decision to end presidential endorsements and a restructuring of the opinion section that sparked staff and subscriber backlash. Those changes were followed by sweeping layoffs that affected about 300 employees, prompting Lewis’s abrupt resignation.

Bloomberg

A Post spokesperson reported that the newspaper is on track to break even and is poised to reach its closest point to profitability in five years. Subscription sales have exceeded 300,000 individual accounts this year, and audience reach grew 20 % year over year in August. Programmatic advertising revenue has risen 53 % compared with the same period last year, indicating a shift toward diversified revenue streams.

Bloomberg

Jeff Bezos praised D’Onofrio in a memo to staff, noting his “discipline and care” and expressing confidence in his leadership. He also highlighted the collective effort required to position the institution for the next 150 years.

The Wrap

“Over these months, I’ve heard from many that Jeff has been doing an outstanding job, and that’s been my experience as well. Jeff has led with discipline and care — following the data and sweating the details, and he has my complete confidence as we chart our future,” — Jeff Bezos

The Wrap