MAM
Who is Jeff D’Onofrio, Washington Post’s acting CEO and publisher?
Finance executive steps up as critics condemn sweeping mass layoff
WASHINGTON: The Washington Post has appointed Jeff D’Onofrio as its acting CEO and publisher following the departure of Will Lewis, whose tenure ended this week after a sweeping round of newsroom layoffs.
D’Onofrio, the Post’s CFO since June 2025, assumes the top role at a moment of acute turbulence. The leadership change comes days after the newspaper cut roughly a third of its staff, including foreign correspondents and US-based reporters, prompting sharp criticism from politicians and media unions.
US senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were among those who condemned the cuts, which have intensified scrutiny of the paper’s direction under owner Jeff Bezos.
In a note to staff, D’Onofrio acknowledged the scale of disruption, writing that the organisation was ending “a hard week of change with more change”. He cited broader economic pressures across the media industry while urging employees to focus on navigating the downturn together.
A finance executive by training, D’Onofrio has spent much of his career in technology, advertising and digital media rather than traditional journalism. Before joining the Post, he served as CFO at Raptive, a digital advertising management firm, overseeing finance, human resources and data functions.
His most prominent role was at Tumblr, where he held multiple senior positions including CEO between 2017 and 2022. During that period, the platform banned adult content, a decision followed by a reported 30 per cent fall in traffic. Tumblr, acquired by Yahoo for $1.1 billion in 2013, was later sold to Automattic in 2019 for less than $3 million.
Earlier in his career, D’Onofrio held senior roles at Google, Yahoo, Zagat and Major League Baseball Advanced Media, and briefly served as general manager of Yahoo News under Verizon ownership.
The Washington Post Guild said hundreds of members were laid off “without rhyme or reason”, adding to pressure on management as the newsroom grapples with repeated rounds of cuts.
Bezos acquired the Washington Post in 2013 and initially expanded its newsroom and digital ambitions. But declining advertising revenue and softer subscription growth have since forced retrenchment. In 2023, the paper eliminated about 240 roles, largely through buyouts. Appointed CEO and publisher Will Lewis that year, exits after a contentious tenure now overshadowed by the latest cuts.
D’Onofrio takes over with detailed knowledge of the Post’s finances, having spent the past nine months at the centre of its restructuring efforts.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
