October 15, 2025

In a shocking tragedy, Doug Lebda, the 55-year-old CEO and founder of LendingTree, died in an ATV accident on October 12 at his family’s farm in Polk County, North Carolina. Authorities were alerted after he was reported missing around 7:31 p.m., and shortly after, deputies found him near the woods. Sadly, he was pronounced dead right at the scene. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing, with no clear signs of mechanical problems or other causes yet. They promised to share a full report once the inquiry finishes. Lebda’s family and LendingTree have asked everyone to respect their privacy and only trust official updates. LendingTree called Doug's passing “unexpected” and remembered him as “a visionary leader who built the company from a startup into one of America’s most recognisable online lending platforms.” They revealed that he was spending a peaceful weekend with his family before this heartbreaking event. Employees are deeply “heartbroken” by his sudden loss. Doug’s wife Megan shared her grief with Business Insider: “He was an amazing man with a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone he met.” She added, “Our hearts are broken, but we are also deeply grateful for the love and support that has poured in from across the world.” LendingTree’s Board of Directors announced that Scott Peyree, the President and COO, will now be the CEO. Steve Ozonian will become Chairman of the Board, stepping up to guide the company during this difficult transition. The company’s statement said, “Doug was a visionary leader whose relentless drive, innovation, and passion transformed the financial services landscape, touching the lives of millions of consumers.” Doug Lebda’s story is inspiring. Born in 1970, he started LendingTree in 1996 after facing the tough maze of traditional mortgages. His clever idea to create an online platform where people could compare loan offers changed the lending industry forever. LendingTree went public in 2000 and grew under Doug’s leadership, adding personal loans, credit cards, and insurance tools. Today, it works with over 400 financial institutions across the U.S. Before his fintech revolution, Doug worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and earned degrees from Bucknell University and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. While the details of the accident are being looked into, LendingTree is focused on keeping Doug’s dream alive. The company will continue to stand for accessibility, transparency, and helping customers — the very values Doug fought for. Doug Lebda’s death marks the end of an era, but his spirit will live on in the way Americans borrow, spend, and manage money every day.

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Tags: Doug lebda, Lendingtree, Atv accident, Fintech, North carolina, Ceo succession,