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Tom Pritzker Retires as Hyatt Chair After Acknowledging Epstein Association

Hyatt made Mark S. Hoplamazian board chair effective immediately after Tom Pritzker retired as executive chairman and said he would not seek reelection in May. Pritzker’s statement, reported by AP, expressed regret over his association and continued contact with Epstein and Maxwell.
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Thomas J. Pritzker retired as Hyatt Hotels Corporation’s executive chairman effective February 16, 2026, and said he would not seek reelection to its board in May. Hyatt appointed its president and CEO, Mark S. Hoplamazian, as board chair immediately. The next day, the Associated Press reported Pritzker’s statement expressing regret over his association and continued contact with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

What changed at Hyatt

Hyatt announced on February 16, 2026, that Pritzker’s retirement as executive chairman was effective immediately. He also decided not to seek reelection to the board at the company’s annual meeting in May. Hyatt’s board appointed Hoplamazian, already the company’s president and CEO, as chair effective immediately. Hyatt’s announcement says Pritzker had served on the board and as executive chairman since August 2004.

Hyatt’s announcement describes the leadership transition but does not cite Epstein or Maxwell. The explanation tied to the association came from Pritzker’s prepared statement, as reported by the Associated Press on February 17.

What Pritzker said about Epstein and Maxwell

In the statement AP reported, Pritzker said: “I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner.” He also said he condemned Epstein and Maxwell’s actions and the harm they caused, and felt deep sorrow for the pain inflicted on their victims. AP’s report says emails in released records showed that interactions between Pritzker and Epstein continued after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.

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The cited reporting establishes an association and continued contact, not participation by Pritzker in Epstein’s crimes. It does not independently reconstruct every interaction or analyze the full underlying document cache.

Who is leading Hyatt now?

Hoplamazian took over as chair immediately while continuing as Hyatt’s president and CEO. The transition therefore combined the chair role with an existing executive position rather than naming a new CEO. Richard Tuttle, chair of Hyatt’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, praised Pritzker’s leadership and thanked him for his service in the company’s announcement.

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Hyatt’s scale and Pritzker’s tenure

Hyatt reported that Pritzker joined its board and became executive chairman in August 2004. In the same February 16, 2026 announcement, the company said that as of December 31, 2025, its portfolio comprised more than 1,500 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 83 countries across six continents. That is a company-reported figure for the stated date, not a live property count. Hyatt’s release

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