Economy

Thomas Pritzker, chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, stepped down from his position on Monday, February 16, 2026, following scrutiny over his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move makes him the latest figure to distance himself from Epstein, whose associates are facing renewed examination in light of recently disclosed court documents.

In a letter to the Hyatt board, Pritzker, 75, announced his retirement, effective immediately. He stated that his decision was made to protect the company from the fallout of his association with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, expressing “deep regret” for maintaining contact with them. “I exercised poor judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for not having distanced myself sooner,” Pritzker wrote, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.

The Hyatt board has appointed Mark S. Hoplamazian, previously president of the company, as chairman. Richard Tuttle, chairman of the nominating and corporate governance committee of the board, stated, “Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt’s long-term strategy and growth, and we appreciate his service and dedication to Hyatt.”

Recent disclosures of court filings revealed a pattern of regular communication between Pritzker and Epstein in the years following Epstein’s 2008 plea deal on state charges related to sex crimes. The correspondence included arrangements for meals and meetings, some of which took place at Epstein’s New York residence.

A 2018 email exchange highlighted Pritzker’s involvement in assisting Epstein’s associate, Karyna Shuliak, with travel plans to Southeast Asia. Epstein requested Pritzker’s help, and Pritzker inquired about Shuliak’s intentions. Shuliak responded that she was “trying to uncover a new girlfriend for Jeffrey,” to which Pritzker replied with a smiling-face emoji and the message, “May the Force be with you.”

Another exchange from 2015, while arranging a meeting, saw Epstein jokingly suggest to Pritzker the possibility of coordinating schedules with the Dalai Lama and Woody Allen for a luncheon, calling it a “memorable event.” The two also discussed invitations to the Pritzker Architecture Prize ceremony in Beijing, a prestigious international award. A representative for the Pritzker Organization did not respond to requests for comment.

Pritzker also announced he would not seek re-election to the Hyatt board at the annual shareholders meeting in May. His departure follows a similar move by Kathryn Ruemmler, a top lawyer at Goldman Sachs, who left the bank last week after her close ties to Epstein were revealed, according to reports from multiple news outlets including the New York Times and Al Jazeera.