GENEVA, Switzerland — World Economic Forum President and Chief Executive Børge Brende has resigned after renewed scrutiny over his past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying he wants the organization to continue its work “without distractions.” The WEF announced the move on Thursday, and Brende said he was stepping down “after careful consideration” following more than eight years leading the forum.
In his resignation statement, Brende thanked colleagues, partners and constituents but did not directly mention Epstein. The move came after the WEF earlier this month opened an internal review into Brende’s relationship with Epstein following newly disclosed files showing the two had multiple business dinners and message exchanges in 2018 and 2019.
Brende, who served as Norway’s foreign minister from 2013 to 2017, had told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he was cooperating with the review, that his meetings with Epstein were strictly professional, and that he had not known the full extent of Epstein’s criminal background when they met. Reuters reported that Brende also expressed regret over what he described as insufficient transparency and due diligence at the time.
The WEF said an independent review by outside counsel has now been completed. In a statement released on behalf of the Board of Trustees, co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said the review found “no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.” Even so, Brende chose to step aside as the annual Davos forum tries to avoid further reputational damage.
The organization said Alois Zwinggi, a longtime WEF managing director, will serve as interim president and CEO while the board begins the search for a permanent successor. Brende’s departure adds to a turbulent period for the forum, coming about a year after founder Klaus Schwab also stepped back from leadership following separate allegations that were later reported as unsubstantiated.
Brende’s resignation is the latest example of how the continuing fallout from Epstein’s network of high-profile contacts is still reshaping institutions far beyond the United States. For the WEF, the immediate challenge now is leadership continuity and containing another credibility hit at a time when the organization is already under intense public scrutiny.
