Washington Post editor Leonard Downie will retire in the fall, ending an illustrious 44-year career at the Post. Downie has been the Post's editor for the past 17 years.

Downie began at the Post as an intern in 1964. Over the course of two decades, he rose within the ranks from London correspondent to national editor to managing editor. He was named executive editor in 1991.

Under Downie's watch the Post won 25 Pulitzer Prizes, the most by an editor in US history.

"Len's extraordinary news judgment, his ferocious sense of fairness, his honesty with the staff and with the stories, and his work ethic made him the great newspaper editor of his time," said Washington Post chairman and chief executive Donald Graham.

Source: Guardian