Doug Lebda, the founder and CEO of LendingTree, died unexpectedly Sunday in an all-terrain car accident, the corporate stated in a media launch.
Former North Carolina governor Pat McCrory informed WCNC Charlotte that Lebda died on his household farm within the western a part of the state, which he’d bought to reconnect along with his rural roots.
“We’re deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Doug,” the corporate’s board of administrators stated in an announcement. “Doug was a visionary chief whose relentless drive, innovation and fervour reworked the monetary providers panorama, touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of customers.”
The board appointed COO and President Scott Peyree to serve in Lebda’s stead. And lead impartial director Steve Ozonian will assume Lebda’s function as chairman of the board.
Lebda based the web lending platform in 1996, rising it into a big platform for customers to buy mortgages, bank cards and insurance coverage merchandise.
Lebda is survived by his spouse, Megan, and three daughters, who mourned his passing in an announcement:
It’s unimaginable to seize the depth of who Doug was and what he meant to all of us. He was an incredible man with a coronary heart so large it appeared to have room for everybody he met. Doug was compassionate, beneficiant, and endlessly curious concerning the world and the individuals round him. He made pals all over the place he went. His vitality was magnetic, his smile contagious, and his presence was a supply of consolation and inspiration.
Doug’s best pleasure was seeing others succeed. His generosity knew no limits, and his kindness touched each single one who crossed his path. He lifted individuals up, believed of their potential, and celebrated their wins as in the event that they have been his personal. He took care of everybody he beloved — household, pals, colleagues, and strangers. He at all times made positive everybody knew how deeply he cared.
Our hearts are damaged, however we’re additionally deeply grateful for the love and assist that has poured in from the world over. Doug’s legacy will proceed within the firm he constructed, the lives he touched, and the instance he set for all of us to guide with kindness, braveness, and compassion.