• Thomas Pritzker resigns as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels over Epstein ties.
• He admits to exercising "terrible judgment" in maintaining connections with Epstein and Maxwell.
• Pritzker has served as chairman since 2004 and announced he will not seek re-election in 2026.
• Hyatt’s president Mark Hoplamazian appointed as the new chairman.
• Recent Justice Department files revealed Pritzker's ongoing contact with Epstein after his conviction.

Billionaire Thomas Pritzker has officially stepped down as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels in light of his longstanding connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stating he exercised "terrible judgment" in his associations. Pritzker, who has held the position since 2004, announced his resignation effective immediately and will not seek reelection to the board in 2026, reflecting a decision made after discussions with fellow board members, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

In his statement, Pritzker expressed regret over his relationships with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, saying, “Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret.” He admitted there is no excuse for not distancing himself sooner from the disgraced financier, underscoring the significant scrutiny business executives now face due to Epstein's extensive network, as noted by India Times and BBC.

Recent revelations from U.S. Justice Department files indicate that Pritzker had ongoing contact with Epstein even after his 2008 guilty plea on sex crime charges. Notably, communications from 2018 show Epstein soliciting Pritzker's assistance for hotel arrangements, which highlights the depth of their association, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

Following Pritzker’s resignation, Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's current president and CEO, has been appointed to take over as chairman. He acknowledged Pritzker’s long-standing commitment to the company and emphasized that this decision reflects the principles of good stewardship Pritzker aimed to uphold throughout his tenure, as reported by Reuters and BBC.