Thomas J. Pritzker has retired as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corp., citing his association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
His retirement is effective immediately, and he will not seek re-election to the board.
"My job and responsibility is to provide good stewardship," Pritzker said in a statement. "Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which I deeply regret."
Pritzker added that he "exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them."
The board has appointed Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt's president and CEO, to succeed Pritzker as chairman, effective immediately. Hoplamazian has served as Hyatt's CEO for nearly two decades.
"Tom's decision reflects his stewardship and strong commitment to Hyatt over his many decades of service," Hoplamazian said in a statement.
According to the Associated Press, "numerous" emails between Pritzker and Epstein were found in a cache of Epstein-related documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019, while Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
Pritzker, who is the son of Hyatt founder Jay Pritzker, had served as Hyatt's executive chairman since 2004. He is executive chairman of The Pritzker Organization, which oversees the Pritzker family's business interests.
This report was updated.