LendingTree Founder, CEO Douglas Lebda Dies in ATV Accident (2)

Douglas Lebda, the founder and chief executive officer of LendingTree Inc., died Sunday following an all-terrain vehicle accident. He was 55.

“We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Doug,” LendingTree’s board of directors said in a statement. The accident occurred on his family farm in North Carolina. He is survived by his wife, Megan Lebda, and his three daughters.

Lebda founded LendingTree in 1996 after “experiencing the frustrations and complexities of getting his first mortgage,” according to the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company’s website. He led the company through its initial public offering in 2000, and its sale ...