The chief executive of the Washington Post is stepping down, the newspaper has announced, days after overseeing mass lay-offs. Will Lewis said it was the right time to leave, stating in a message to staff that 'difficult decisions' had been made to ensure the paper's future. On Wednesday, the newspaper announced it was cutting a third of its workforce, dramatically scaling back its coverage of sport and international news. Many journalists condemned this decision and criticized the Post's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos. Executive editor Matt Murray indicated that the cuts aimed to bring 'stability.' Jeff D'Onofrio, the chief financial officer who joined last year, will take on the role of acting publisher and CEO. Lewis faced criticism from subscribers and employees as he attempted to reverse financial losses at the daily. Protests erupted outside the Post's headquarters after the layoffs, which included the entire Middle East staff and its Ukraine correspondent. Former executive editor Marty Baron referred to the cuts as 'among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organisations.' Lewis’s departure highlights the ongoing turmoil at the influential U.S. newspaper, which has seen a series of staff cuts and controversial editorial decisions in recent years.