Thomas J. Pritzker, who has held the position of executive chairman at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, is stepping down amidst his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Pritzker cited his “relationships” with both Epstein and Epstein’s former assistant, Ghislaine Maxwell, in a letter to the Hyatt board, as reported by a major newspaper.
This announcement followed the release of files revealing that Pritzker and Epstein had interactions in the years following Epstein’s 2008 plea deal on sex crime charges.
“Proper stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in relation to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which I deeply regret,” Pritzker remarked.
It was noted that an email exchange from 2018 showed Epstein requesting Pritzker’s help with travel arrangements for his girlfriend, Karina Schliak. Previous correspondence from 2015 indicated they were making plans to meet.
In the 2018 emails, Epstein asked Pritzker to assist in organizing a trip to Southeast Asia for Schliak. Pritzker inquired about Epstein’s intentions for the trip.
“I’m going to look for a new girlfriend for Jeffrey,” Schliak replied.
Pritzker responded humorously, saying, “May the force be with you,” followed by a smiley emoji.
Another email from 2015 showed Epstein joking with Pritzker about their meeting plans: “Wouldn’t it be interesting to have lunch with the Dalai Lama and Woody Allen? It could be quite a memorable occasion.”
The publication suggested that Pritzker displayed poor judgment in keeping in touch with Epstein and Maxwell.
Reports indicate that Pritzker has been with Hyatt since 1980, serving as a board member and executive chairman since August 2004.
Richard Tuttle, chairman of the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, expressed gratitude for Pritzker’s leadership and contributions to Hyatt, which have been pivotal in shaping the company’s strategy and growth.
