Tom Pritzker has stepped down as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation following the release of damaging documents linking him to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The billionaire heir announced his immediate resignation on Monday, citing the need to protect the company's reputation amidst the growing scandal.
Newly unsealed files from the Department of Justice revealed a trove of emails demonstrating a close personal relationship between Pritzker and Epstein that persisted long after Epstein’s 2008 sex crime conviction. One particularly damning exchange showed Epstein describing Pritzker as being "like family," while other records placed the hotel magnate at Epstein's properties on multiple occasions.
In a statement addressed to shareholders and employees, Pritzker expressed deep remorse for his continued association with the convicted sex offender. He admitted to exercising "terrible judgment" by maintaining ties with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, acknowledging there was no excuse for his failure to cut contact sooner.
The resignation comes after weeks of intensifying pressure from investors and public advocacy groups who demanded accountability from the hospitality giant's leadership. Shareholders had expressed concern that Pritzker's continued presence at the helm of the board posed a material risk to the brand's global image and corporate values.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation moved quickly to name a successor, appointing current President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian to assume the additional role of Chairman of the Board. The board issued a brief statement thanking Pritzker for his decades of service while emphasizing their commitment to ethical leadership and transparency moving forward.
The controversial documents were part of a larger cache released by federal authorities, which have implicated numerous high-profile figures in business and politics over the last several months. These files contradict Pritzker's previous assertions that his relationship with Epstein was minimal and strictly professional in nature.
Pritzker, who has served as a key figure in the global hospitality industry for over twenty years, will also not seek re-election to the company's board of directors. His departure marks the end of an era for the Chicago-based company, which was founded by his family and grew into one of the world's largest luxury hotel operators.
Legal analysts suggest that while Pritzker has not been charged with any crimes, the reputational damage from the detailed correspondence made his position untenable. The scandal highlights the enduring impact of the Epstein investigation, which continues to upend the careers of powerful individuals years after the financier's death.