Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced Monday that Thomas J. Pritzker, 75, a longtime executive and cousin of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), has resigned as executive chairman.
The decision follows the release of Justice Department (DOJ) documents showing Pritzker maintained contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell after Epstein’s 2008 plea deal.
Pritzker, who has led Hyatt since 2004, confirmed he would not seek reelection to the company’s board at the annual stockholders’ meeting in May.
In a statement, he said, “Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which I deeply regret. I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner.”
Although Pritzker faces no legal charges, documents indicate he exchanged at least 20 emails with Epstein between 2010 and early 2019, discussing personal matters and current events.
Epstein’s 2008 conviction involved soliciting a minor for prostitution, and he died in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting federal child sex trafficking charges.
In his letter to Hyatt’s board, Pritzker emphasized the importance of a smooth transition.
“For 70 years, Hyatt has been part of our family’s identity and our family has been part of Hyatt’s identity,” he wrote, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “Good stewardship is very important to me personally.”
CEO Mark Hoplamazian was immediately named board chair, with board member Richard Tuttle praising Pritzker as “instrumental in determining the company’s strategy.”
Pritzker’s departure is part of a broader wave of high-profile resignations following the disclosure of Epstein-related documents.
In recent weeks, executives and public figures have stepped aside after scrutiny of past communications.
Former Goldman Sachs general counsel Kathryn Ruemmler resigned following email disclosures, as did Brad Karp, chairman of the law firm Paul, Weiss.
Entertainment and sports executive Casey Wasserman, involved with the LA28 Olympics organizing committee, also faced fallout over prior ties to Epstein associates.
Beyond Hyatt, Pritzker remains executive chairman of The Pritzker Organization, the family’s primary investment and advisory firm, and serves on boards for the University of Chicago and family philanthropic foundations, including The Hyatt Foundation and the Pritzker Architecture Prize board.
Pritzker added, “I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims.”
Pritzker’s tenure at Hyatt spans more than two decades, during which he guided the company’s global expansion and oversaw growth into new markets.
With a portfolio now exceeding 1,500 properties across 83 countries, maintaining leadership continuity is considered critical by investors and industry observers.
Hoplamazian’s immediate appointment ensures operational stability as Hyatt continues its strategic growth initiatives while preserving its reputation in the global hospitality sector.
The resignation highlights the ongoing impact of the DOJ’s document release on corporate leadership.
Even without legal charges, associations with Epstein have prompted organizations to review governance and risk, reflecting the heightened sensitivity around reputational exposure.
For Hyatt, the transition aims to safeguard the company’s long-term strategy and maintain confidence among shareholders, employees, and guests worldwide.
WATCH:
