Rob Katz: Colorado 500 - Hospitality & Tourism

Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board, Vail Resorts

ColoradoBiz Staff //April 21, 2026//

Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Board, Vail Resorts

ColoradoBiz Staff //April 21, 2026//

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Rob Katz became CEO of Vail Resorts in 2006 after joining the company’s board of directors in 1996, having first become involved with the company through his work at Apollo Management, a private equity firm he joined at its founding in 1990. During his nearly 16 years as CEO, he grew Vail Resorts from five resorts to 41 across 15 states and four countries, expanding its workforce from 8,000 to 55,000 employees. In 2008, he developed the Epic Pass, transforming how the ski industry approaches season pass access and stability. He stepped down as CEO in 2021, naming Kirsten Lynch as his successor, and continues to serve as executive chairman of the board. Katz and his wife, Elana Amsterdam, founded the Katz Amsterdam Foundation in 2017, which has provided $22 million in grants to advance access to mental and behavioral health care in mountain communities. He currently serves on the Wharton Leadership Advisory Board.

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