Robert Winnett
Robert Winnett

Robert Winnett has decided not to take the editor job at the Washington Post, opting to remain as the deputy editor at the Daily Telegraph Group in London.

DC Post publisher Will Lewis announced the hiring of Winnett and the exit of editor Sally Buzbee. He was to join the paper in November.

In a note to staffers, Lewis expressed regret that Winnett would not be joining the paper. “Rob has my greatest respect and is an incredibly talented editor and journalist,” he wrote.

Lewis and Winnett worked together at the Telegraph and Sunday Times.

A search for someone to fill the editor spot has begun. “We will soon announce both the recruiting firm and process we will utilize to ensure a timely but thorough search for this important leadership role,” wrote Lewis.

The Post announced on June 3 that Matt Murray, former editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal, succeeded Buzbee, 58, as executive editor, until the US presidential election.

Winnett's exit from the Post follows reports that he used deceptive tactics to gain information for his articles that ran the Times and Telegraph.