Oslo, Norway. Børge Brende has resigned as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), weeks after the organisation launched an independent investigation into his relationship with the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Resignation and public comments
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister who led the WEF since 2017, announced his departure in a statement issued by the forum that did not mention Epstein. He told Norwegian media he did not want the matter to become a distraction for the organisation, which runs the annual Davos summit, and said he regretted not being more transparent about his contacts with Epstein.
“Like many others, I have felt a great deal of discomfort at being linked to Jeffrey Epstein, and I was afraid that the contact would be portrayed as something other than what it was. That is the honest answer,” Brende told Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv.
Justice Department disclosures on contacts
U.S. Justice Department disclosures showed Brende attended three business dinners with Epstein and communicated with him by email and text message. Released messages from 2018–19 showed a friendly tone between the two men, with Brende referring to Epstein as a “brilliant host.” Their last known communication was a week before Epstein’s arrest in 2019.
Brende has said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal background before first meeting him in 2018 and said he regretted not having looked into him more thoroughly.
Independent review and interim leadership
WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said an independent review by outside counsel had concluded and found no concerns beyond what had already been made public. Managing Director Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO while the Board of Trustees oversees the search for a permanent successor.
Context at the World Economic Forum
Brende’s resignation follows the departure of WEF founder Klaus Schwab last year after a whistleblower alleged misconduct. An internal investigation found no evidence of material wrongdoing by Schwab.
Background on Epstein and broader scrutiny
Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor, died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
The release of more than three million pages of Justice Department documents relating to him has implicated prominent business and political figures, prompted criminal investigations into Britain’s Prince Andrew, and drawn scrutiny to past associations of figures including U.S. President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
What impact do you think Brende’s resignation will have on the World Economic Forum’s leadership transition?