Fred Ryan Named New Publisher At The Washington Post

Fred Ryan

Katharine Weymouth, the Graham family's last leader at The Washington Post, informed staff on Tuesday that she will be stepping down as publisher and handing the reins to Fred Ryan, the former president and chief executive of POLITICO.

"The greatest honor of my life has been serving as publisher of the Post these past seven years, working with all of you. Now, after 17 years at this great institution, it is time for me to explore other opportunities," Weymouth wrote. "I make this announcement with mixed emotions. I am enormously excited about this new era at the Post, but I will miss all of you tremendously."

Weymouth's departure, widely expected since Jeff Bezos' acquisition of the paper last year, brings an end to eight decades of Graham family leadership. Weymouth is the granddaughter of Katharine Graham, the former chairwoman and publisher of the newspaper. Bezos told Weymouth in mid-August that he had selected a new publisher, according to the Post.

Ryan will replace Weymouth as publisher and CEO effective Oct. 1.

Read More Now.