Tom Pritzker, 75, announced on Feb. 16, 2026 that he is stepping down immediately as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation after newly disclosed records showed repeated contact with financier Jeffrey Epstein following Epstein’s 2008 plea deal. In a letter to the Hyatt board, Pritzker said he had failed to distance himself from Epstein and others and framed his departure as an effort to protect the company’s reputation and governance. The board said it had appointed Hyatt president Mark S. Hoplamazian as chairman and that Pritzker will not stand for re-election at the annual meeting in May. The move makes Pritzker the latest prominent figure to leave a public role amid fallout from Epstein-related disclosures.
Key Takeaways
- Tom Pritzker, 75, retired as Hyatt’s executive chairman effective Feb. 16, 2026 and will not seek re-election to the board in May.
- Recently released documents show Pritzker exchanged emails with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein’s 2008 criminal plea, arranging meetings and dinners, including at Epstein’s Manhattan residence.
- Specific messages cited include a 2015 exchange joking about a lunch and a 2018 email in which Epstein sought travel help for Karyna Shuliak; those exchanges were used in reporting on the disclosures.
- Pritzker told the board he had “exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact,” acknowledging delayed distancing from Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
- Hyatt’s board named President Mark S. Hoplamazian as chairman; Richard Tuttle, chair of the nominating and governance committee, praised Pritzker’s strategic leadership in a company statement.
- The resignation raises immediate reputational and oversight questions for Hyatt, with potential scrutiny from shareholders, customers and regulators.
Background
The Pritzker family is one of the best-known fortunes in American business; Thomas J. Pritzker served for years as a senior leader and public face of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Hyatt, founded by Jay Pritzker and family, grew into a global hospitality company with a high-profile philanthropic footprint, including the international Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier later convicted on sex-related charges, reached a controversial plea agreement in 2008. Over the following decades, reporting and document releases have shown Epstein maintained relationships with numerous wealthy and influential figures. Disclosures in recent years — including court filings and archived communications — have prompted fresh scrutiny of previously private contacts.
In this context, newly reported exchanges between Pritzker and Epstein — and references to associates such as Ghislaine Maxwell and Karyna Shuliak — have placed pressure on corporate boards and institutions to respond to reputational risk and to reassess ties to controversial figures.
Main Event
On Feb. 16, 2026, Pritzker addressed the Hyatt board in a letter announcing his immediate retirement as executive chairman and his decision not to seek another term on the board at the company’s May stockholders meeting. He said the choice was intended to shield Hyatt from consequences tied to his association with Epstein and Maxwell and described his judgment as poor for continuing contact after Epstein’s 2008 plea.
The disclosures that precipitated the resignation include email threads reported by news organizations. In one 2018 exchange, Epstein asked for assistance arranging travel for Karyna Shuliak; messages recorded in reporting showed Pritzker responding lightheartedly. In a separate 2015 exchange, Epstein joked about arranging a memorable lunch that referenced public figures; the emails also show they coordinated meetings and invitations tied to Pritzker’s philanthropic activities.
Hyatt’s board responded by elevating company president Mark S. Hoplamazian to the role of chairman. In a formal statement, the board’s governance committee acknowledged Pritzker’s past contributions to Hyatt’s strategy and long-term growth while thanking him for his service. The organization representing Pritzker did not provide an additional public comment beyond his letter.
Analysis & Implications
The immediate consequence is reputational: major hospitality brands rely on trust from guests, investors and partners, and leadership changes tied to high-profile controversies can erode that trust quickly. Even when no legal liability attaches to a corporation, association with figures who have criminal histories can trigger customer boycotts, activist investor demands and pressure from business partners.
For Hyatt specifically, the appointment of an internal successor — the company president — signals a preference for continuity in operations and strategy. Still, boards often face calls for independent reviews of past vetting and governance practices after such revelations. Shareholders may press for revised policies governing charitable, philanthropic and personal engagements by senior executives.
There are broader sectoral implications: other institutions with historical links to Epstein have also seen resignations, reputational reviews, or governance reforms. Companies now face a data-rich environment where archived communications can surface years later, increasing the importance of documented conflict-of-interest policies and transparent relationship disclosures for executives and trustees.
Comparison & Data
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Jeffrey Epstein enters plea agreement on sex-related charges |
| 2015 | Reported email exchange between Epstein and Pritzker arranging a meeting |
| 2018 | Reported email where Epstein asks Pritzker to assist with Karyna Shuliak’s travel |
| Feb. 16, 2026 | Tom Pritzker announces immediate retirement as Hyatt executive chairman |
The timeline underscores that the reported contacts occurred after Epstein’s 2008 plea, a point reporters and commentators emphasize when assessing the judgment of public figures who maintained ties. The company’s swift board action is consistent with governance responses observed in similar corporate reputational crises.
Reactions & Quotes
Hyatt’s governance committee issued a public statement acknowledging Pritzker’s role and announcing leadership succession. The comment framed the transition as both a recognition of past service and a move to safeguard the company’s future.
“Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt’s strategy and long-term growth, and we thank him for his service and dedication to Hyatt.”
Richard Tuttle, Chair, Board Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (Hyatt statement)
Pritzker’s own letter to the board framed the resignation as an act of stewardship intended to shield Hyatt from fallout tied to his personal associations. His note conceded poor judgment for continuing contact after 2008.
“Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret.”
Thomas J. Pritzker (letter to Hyatt board)
Public reaction is likely to include scrutiny from investors and watchdog groups; some observers will press for more detailed disclosures about the nature and extent of the relationships and for clearer safeguards against future reputational risk.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Pritzker had knowledge of or participated in any criminal conduct by Epstein; no such allegation is documented in the released records cited by news reports.
- Whether Hyatt faces any legal exposure related to Pritzker’s personal contacts; no regulatory or legal action against the company has been reported at this time.
- The full scope of communications between Pritzker and Epstein beyond the email excerpts made public; additional messages may exist but have not been disclosed publicly.
Bottom Line
Tom Pritzker’s immediate retirement as Hyatt’s executive chairman on Feb. 16, 2026 follows published records showing continued contact with Jeffrey Epstein after 2008 and marks another high-profile leadership exit linked to those disclosures. Hyatt’s appointment of Mark Hoplamazian to the chair role signals an emphasis on operational continuity while the company navigates reputational fallout.
Stakeholders should watch for three developments in the coming months: any board-ordered review or governance changes at Hyatt, investor or customer responses that affect business metrics, and whether additional disclosures about Pritzker’s contacts or other institutional links emerge ahead of the May annual meeting. The episode underscores the reputational risk companies face when leaders maintain ties to controversial figures in an era of persistent document transparency.
Sources
- The New York Times — news report summarizing released documents and company statement (primary reporting cited)