Tom Pritzker, cousin of J. B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, said he will retire as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation and will not seek reelection to the company’s board, pointing to his past association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
In a statement released by the Pritzker Organization, Pritzker said he chose to step aside after discussions with board members, framing the move as part of ensuring a smooth leadership transition. He added that protecting Hyatt also meant addressing the impact of his past ties, calling his continued contact with Epstein and Maxwell “terrible judgment” and expressing regret for not distancing himself sooner. He had held the role since 2004.
Hyatt said Mark Hoplamazian will assume the combined role of chairman and chief executive officer as part of the leadership transition.
