World Economic Forum President Børge Brende announced Thursday that he is stepping down from his role, citing “distractions” tied to revelations about his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende’s resignation follows the Justice Department’s release of emails detailing his communications with Epstein, prompting an internal review by the World Economic Forum. The disclosures reignited scrutiny over global elites who maintained contact with Epstein years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
“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,” Brende said in a statement. “I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions.”
WEF Board of Trustees co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink thanked Brende for his leadership and said the organization’s inquiry found “no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.” Board member Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president while a search for a permanent replacement begins.
Records show that Brende had three dinners with Epstein in 2018 and 2019, roughly a decade after Epstein’s conviction. Brende has said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal history at the time of the meetings and would have declined the invitations had he known.
“I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities,” Brende said earlier this month. “Had I known about his background, I would have declined the initial invitation and any subsequent dinner invitations or communications.”
The emails released by the Justice Department appear to show Brende referring to Epstein as his “friend” and coordinating at least one dinner at Epstein’s Manhattan residence. In one September 2018 exchange, Epstein suggested that Davos “can really replace the UN,” referencing the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting. Brende replied that “we need a new global architecture” and described the forum as “uniquely positioned – public private.”
Other emails from 2019 indicate additional communications between the two, including arrangements for further dinners and messages sent while Brende was traveling internationally.
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, has not been accused of any crimes. The WEF maintains that its review uncovered no new wrongdoing beyond what was already public.
The Justice Department’s broader release of Epstein-related materials has triggered international fallout, including high-profile investigations and arrests overseas. The renewed scrutiny has once again cast a spotlight on political, business, and cultural figures who maintained ties to Epstein long after his conviction became public.
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