The founer, chairman and CEO of a major online financial services company has died unexpectedly.

LendingTree, Inc. announced Monday that Doug Lebda died after an ATV crash. No further details were provided.

Lebda founded LendingTree in 1996.

Scott Peyree, LendingTree’s COO and president, will take over Lebda’s role, the Charlotte-based lender said in statement. Lead Independent Director Steve Ozonian will become chairman of the board, effective immediately.

A Board of Directors statement called Lebda “a visionary leader whose relentless drive, innovation and passion transformed the financial services landscape.”

The statement said LendingTree has helped millions of customers and “permanently changed the way in which consumers access financial products”

“His passion will continue to i

See Full Page