In a statement, Brende, a former Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said, “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8½ years, has been profoundly rewarding.” He added that he believed it was the right moment for the Forum to continue its work “without distractions.” Brende’s departure comes less than a month after he interviewed U.S. President Donald Trump following the latter’s address to government and business leaders at the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
The WEF launched the independent investigation earlier this month after it emerged that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein in 2018 and 2019 and maintained contact via emails and text messages. Emails reviewed by officials indicate that at least one of these dinners took place at Epstein’s home in New York, occurring just weeks before Epstein was arrested on federal charges of child sex trafficking. Epstein previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting sex from a minor and served an 18-month prison sentence.
“We wish to express our sincere appreciation for Borge Brende’s significant contributions to the World Economic Forum,” said Larry Fink and Andre Hoffmann, co-chairs of the WEF’s board of trustees. They noted that the independent review had concluded and identified “no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.” Hoffmann and Fink stated that they respected Brende’s decision, citing his leadership during a pivotal period of reform for the organization. The WEF has appointed business leader Alois Zwinggi as interim President and CEO while the board undertakes the process of appointing a permanent successor.
Earlier this month, Brende stated that he was “completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities” at the time of their interactions. “I recognize that I could have conducted a more thorough investigation into Epstein’s history, and I regret not doing so,” he said, adding that he would not have communicated with or attended dinners with Epstein had he known the facts.
Brende’s resignation is part of a broader pattern of high-profile departures linked to the publication of the Epstein files. Since late December, the release of these documents has led to the exit of several prominent figures, none of whom have been charged with wrongdoing. Recent departures include Tom Pritzker, executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels; Kathy Ruemmler, a top lawyer at Goldman Sachs; and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of Dubai logistics giant DP World. In 2021, Leon Black, CEO of Apollo Global Management, and Jes Staley, former CEO of Barclays, also stepped down from their respective roles due to their associations with Epstein.
The WEF has been a focal point for scrutiny regarding its leadership stability. Brende’s exit comes less than a year after the forum’s founding chairman, Klaus Schwab, stepped down under a cloud following whistleblower allegations of misconduct. An investigation into those allegations, which concluded in August, found “no evidence of material wrongdoing” by Schwab. With Zwinggi now leading the organization on an interim basis, the WEF will focus on its upcoming annual activities while navigating the transition to new permanent leadership.
