https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/ceo-and-dad-of-3-dies-unexpectedly-in-an-atv-accident-at-family-farm-he-lifted-people-up-widow-says/ar-AA1OolFK?uxmode=ruby&ocid
LendingTree founder Doug Lebda, a longtime business executive and father of three, was killed "unexpectedly" over the weekend in what his company called an "all-terrain vehicle accident."
He died on Sunday, Oct. 12, LendingTree said. The incident occurred on a family farm in North Carolina, according to The New York Times. He was 55.
"It is impossible to capture the depth of who Doug was and what he meant to all of us," his widow, Megan, said in a statement on Monday, Oct. 13.
"He was an amazing man with a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone he met. Doug was compassionate, generous, and endlessly curious about the world and the people around him. He made friends everywhere he went," Megan said. "His energy was magnetic, his smile contagious, and his presence was a source of comfort and inspiration.
"Doug’s greatest joy was seeing others succeed. His generosity knew no limits, and his kindness touched every single person who crossed his path. He lifted people up, believed in their potential, and celebrated their wins as if they were his own," his wife continued.
Scott Peyree has been named to replace Lebda as CEO, saying in his own statement, "The news of losing Doug was devastating,"
Further information about the ATV incident was not immediately available.
Lebda founded the financial services company in 1996 — "After experiencing the frustrations and complexities of getting his first mortgage," according to his company biography — and served in various roles in the ensuing decades, including as an executive with IAC in the years that it owned LendingTree. (IAC now owns People Inc., PEOPLE's parent company.)
"Doug was a visionary leader whose relentless drive, innovation and passion transformed the financial services landscape, touching the lives of millions of consumers," LendingTree's board said in a statement.
"His passion will continue to inspire us as we move forward together. We extend our deepest sympathies to Doug's family and loved ones during this difficult time," the board said.