Billionaire Thomas Pritzker has announced that he will be stepping down as the executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels. The news comes after newly disclosed US justice department files revealed his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The 75-year-old, who has held the role since 2004, said on Monday that he would not seek re-election to the company’s board in 2026. In a statement, Pritzker addressed his past contact with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, expressing regret over the relationship. “Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret,” he said, adding, “I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner.”
