Will Lewis, the chief executive officer and publisher of American daily newspaper The Washington Post, has resigned amid heavy backlash after the organisation sacked hundreds of journalists as part of a cost-cutting effort.

The 56-year-old, who had held the position since 2024, announced his resignation in a statement on Saturday, noting that he made the decision to leave “in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post”.

Mr Lewis’ departure came three days after the newspaper dismissed more than 300 journalists, a significant 30 per cent of the company’s workforce, after years of facing financial losses.

The decision, which quickly drew widespread public condemnation, especially in the media industry, decimated The Post’s local, international and sports coverage, with Mr Lewis ultimately resigning as a result.

Meanwhile, Jeff D’Onofrio, the newspaper’s chief financial officer, was immediately named as the acting publisher and CEO.

“D’Onofrio, a strategic business leader and proven architect of the new media landscape, joined The Post in June 2025 as Chief Financial Officer following leadership roles across global companies including Raptive, Tumblr, Yahoo and Google.

“He succeeds William Lewis, who has served as publisher and CEO for the past two years,” the newspaper said.

In an acceptance statement, Mr D’Onofrio said he was delighted with the opportunity to lead The Post and be part of the team pushing to secure the newspaper’s future.

“The Post’s resolute commitment to writing the first rough draft of history anchors and imprints its future. I am honoured to become part of charting that future and to take the lead in securing both the legacy and business of this fierce, storied American institution,” Mr D’Onofrio explained.