WASHINGTON, May 11 — The Washington Post named Sally Buzbee, a veteran journalist with the Associated Press, as executive editor on Tuesday, the first time a woman will head the newsroom of the prestigious newspaper.

Buzbee, 55, has spent her entire career with the US news agency and is currently the AP’s executive editor and senior vice president.

Buzbee, a former Washington bureau chief for the AP, replaces Martin Baron, who retired in February after eight years at the helm of the newspaper.

Buzbee will be the first woman to serve in the top editorial position at the Post since it was founded in 1877. Previous executive editors include Ben Bradlee of Watergate fame.

"The Post has such a rich journalistic legacy, and such a terrific staff,” Buzbee told the Post in an interview. "It’s exciting to join this organization at a time of growth and innovation.”

Publisher Fred Ryan, who announced the hiring, said the newspaper had "looked for someone steeped in the courageous journalism that is The Post’s hallmark, and who can extend our reach to news audiences in the US and abroad.”

The Post has announced plans to open new bureaus in Sydney and Bogota for a total of 26 outside the United States.

Buzbee is the first executive editor hired by the Post since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos purchased the newspaper in 2013 from the Graham family. — AFP