Thomas J. Pritzker, the Executive Chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has announced his retirement, citing his connection to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, as the reason for his decision.
In a letter addressed to the Hyatt board, Pritzker detailed his resignation, pointing to his links with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, as reported by the New York Times.
This decision follows the release of documents that revealed Pritzker and Epstein had communicated after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for sex crimes, the publication noted.
Pritzker stated, “Acting as a responsible leader means shielding Hyatt, especially considering my ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which I profoundly regret.”
The media outlet highlighted a 2018 email exchange where Epstein requested Pritzker’s assistance in organizing a trip for his girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak. Additionally, a 2015 correspondence indicated plans for a meeting between Pritzker and Epstein.
Pritzker acknowledged having “exercised poor judgment in maintaining contact with them,” according to the report.
In one email exchange from 2018, Mr. Epstein asked Mr. Pritzker to help his girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, arrange a trip to Southeast Asia. Mr. Pritzker agreed, and asked what she planned to do there.
Ms. Shuliak responded: “Going to try to find a new girlfriend for Jeffrey.”
Mr. Pritzker replied with a smiley-face emoticon and said “May the Force be with you.”
In another exchange, from 2015, as the two made arrangements to meet, Mr. Epstein joked to Mr. Pritzker about combining their plans: “would you find it amusing to have dali lama meet woody allen for lunch on sat = could be a memorable event.”
Pritzker also expressed that he had “exercised terrible judgement in maintaining contact with them,” according to the outlet.
According to a press release from Hyatt, Pritzker “served as a member of Hyatt’s Board and as Executive Chairman since August 2004 and began his senior executive and Chairman responsibilities for predecessor entities starting in 1980.”
“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, the Chair of the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, said in a statement.
