Thomas Pritzker has retired as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, effective immediately, citing his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Pritzker said in a statement that his responsibility as a steward of Hyatt includes protecting the company’s reputation, acknowledging that he “exercised terrible judgment” in maintaining contact with Epstein and Maxwell. He added that he would not seek re-election to the board.
The Hyatt board has appointed Mark Hoplamazian, the company’s president and CEO, to succeed Pritzker as chairman. Hoplamazian has led Hyatt as CEO for nearly two decades and will now take on the additional role while continuing to oversee day-to-day operations.
According to reports from the Associated Press, numerous emails between Pritzker and Epstein were included in a cache of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice. Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial, and Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence.
Pritzker, son of Hyatt founder Jay Pritzker, had served as executive chairman since 2004 and also leads The Pritzker Organization, which manages the family’s business interests.
The leadership change marks a significant governance shift for Hyatt as it navigates reputational considerations and continuity in executive leadership within the global hospitality sector.
