GENEVA — Børge Brende has announced his resignation as President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Economic Forum following mounting pressure regarding his associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former Norwegian foreign minister disclosed his decision after what he described as “careful consideration” of the circumstances.
In an official statement released by the WEF, Brende expressed gratitude for his collaborative experiences with colleagues and partners while emphasizing his belief that this departure would allow the organization to continue its critical work “without distractions.” The forum, renowned for its annual Davos summit gathering global leaders, now faces leadership transition during a period of heightened scrutiny.
This development follows the WEF’s initiation of an internal review earlier this month after disclosed documents indicated multiple dinner meetings and electronic communications between Brende and Epstein. The Norwegian executive previously maintained to national broadcaster NRK that these interactions occurred strictly in professional contexts, asserting he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal history at the time of their engagements.
WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink confirmed the completion of an independent external investigation, stating the findings revealed “no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.” The organization has appointed Alois Zwinggi as interim President and CEO during this transitional phase. Brende becomes one of several prominent Norwegian figures facing examination following recent Epstein document releases.