• by Ray Schultz , June 12, 2023

Fred Ryan is leaving his post as CEO and publisher of The Washington Post after nine years to lead a new nonpartisan Center on Public Civility at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. 

Ryan will continue as publisher until August. 

Patty Stonesifer has been named interim CEO, responsible for managing the transition and leading the search for a new publisher and CEO for the Post. Stonesifer starts today.

Stonesifer was the founding CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation after holding previous executive roles at Microsoft.

Assessing his tenure, Ryan says, “During my time at The Washington Post, we have evolved from a primarily local print newspaper to become a global digital publication and added significantly to our ranks of journalists, engineers and business teams, taking The Post through multiple years of profitability.” 

On his new role, Ryan comments, “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the new Center on Public Civility which will play an important role in support of our democracy.”