Jeff D’Onofrio, who previously served as CEO of Tumblr from 2017 to 2022, has now been appointed as the acting Chief Executive Officer and publisher for the esteemed Washington Post. This leadership change follows the controversial departure of Will Lewis, whose tenure concluded with significant mass layoffs earlier this week. D’Onofrio is no stranger to The Post, having held the position of CFO since last June.
D’Onofrio’s Untraditional Path to News Leadership
Despite taking on such a prominent role in traditional news, D’Onofrio’s background isn’t deeply rooted in this specific industry. Before joining The Post, his most significant experience in a news-related capacity was as the General Manager for Yahoo News during its time under Verizon ownership. Following that, he shifted his focus entirely to leading Tumblr, a period marked by some rather contentious decisions.
Tumblr Under D’Onofrio: Content Policy & Acquisition
During his time at the helm of Tumblr, D’Onofrio spearheaded a notable—and ultimately controversial—policy change: a ban on adult content. This decision, intended to rebrand the platform, paradoxically led to a significant 30% decline in user traffic. It’s also worth noting Tumblr’s tumultuous ownership history; originally acquired by Yahoo for a hefty $1.1 billion in 2013, it was later sold to Automattic, the owner of WordPress, in 2019 for an undisclosed sum, reportedly less than $3 million.