Børge Brende, president and CEO of the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), has resigned amid scrutiny of his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the forum announced Thursday following an independent investigation into his past interactions with the disgraced financier.
Brende, who has led the organisation behind the annual Davos summit since 2017, said in a statement that after “careful consideration” he believed it was the right moment to step down so the Forum could continue its work without distraction. He expressed gratitude for his 8½ years at the helm but made no direct reference to Epstein in his resignation remarks.
The investigation was launched earlier this month after disclosures from the U.S. Department of Justice showed Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein and had communicated via email and text message. Officials said the independent review by outside counsel concluded there were no additional concerns beyond what had already been disclosed publicly.
In a joint statement, WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink thanked Brende for his contributions and leadership but said a change was necessary to protect the Forum’s work and reputation. Alois Zwinggi, the organisation’s managing director, has been appointed interim president and CEO while the Board of Trustees begins a search for a permanent successor.
The leadership shake-up comes as the Forum faces heightened scrutiny following the release of millions of pages of documents linked to Epstein, prompting broader questions about governance and accountability among global elites.
