Børge Brende has stepped down as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF) after scrutiny over his past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Brende announced his resignation on Thursday, saying it was the “right moment” for the Forum to continue its work “without distractions,” after more than eight years in the role. The move comes weeks after the WEF launched an independent investigation following disclosures from the US Department of Justice that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein and exchanged emails and text messages with him.
These interactions reportedly took place in a professional context, and Brende had earlier said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities at the time. In a statement, Brende did not directly mention Epstein but reflected on his tenure, calling it “profoundly rewarding” and expressing gratitude to colleagues and partners, according to a report by Reuters.
The Geneva-based Forum, best known for hosting the annual Davos summit of global political and business leaders, said its board had completed an independent review into the matter. According to the organisation, the investigation found no additional concerns beyond those already publicly disclosed.
Following Brende’s departure, WEF Managing Director Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO while trustees oversee a leadership transition and search for a permanent successor.
Brende, a former foreign minister of Norway, had led the Forum since 2017 and played a central role in shaping its global agenda on economic cooperation, climate policy, and technological governance. His resignation marks the latest high-profile fallout linked to Epstein, whose connections to political, financial and institutional elites continue to trigger investigations and leadership upheavals worldwide.
