Doug Lebda, the founder and chief executive of LendingTree, died unexpectedly in an all-terrain vehicle accident over the weekend, the company announced Monday . He was 55.

The online lending marketplace said in a statement that Lebda’s death occurred Sunday and described him as a “visionary leader whose relentless drive, innovation and passion transformed the financial services landscape, touching the lives of millions of consumers.”

The Charlotte-based company’s board appointed President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Peyree as president and CEO effective immediately, and named Steve Ozonian, a longtime director, as chairman of the board. 4

“The news of losing Doug was devastating,” Peyree said .

“But one of the most immediate impacts of his legacy is the strong managem

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