When tragedy struck one of Charlotte’s most visible tech companies last fall, it forced an unexpected leadership transition at a pivotal moment. LendingTree CEO Doug Lebda’s sudden death in October 2025 left the company — and the city — reeling. Within hours, longtime executive Scott Peyree was asked to step into the top role and steady a business serving millions of consumers nationwide.

In this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia talks with Peyree about the night everything changed, how he learned of Lebda’s passing, and what it meant to lead through grief while keeping a public company on track. Peyree reflects on his path from founding QuoteWizard to running LendingTree, the company’s future in Charlotte, and how artificial intelligence could reshape how consumers shop for financial products. Along the way, he also shares a few personal details — including his love of Seattle grunge and why hybrid work is here to stay.

We hope you enjoy the conversation with Scott Peyree. For more information on LendingTree, visit LendingTree.com.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Crimson Park Digital. Get your brand seen, capture demand, and turn attention into revenue, now. Visit CrimsonParkDigital.com to get started.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast was produced by Lindsey Banks. For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com.

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