Børge Brende has resigned as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, stepping down Thursday after mounting scrutiny over previously disclosed interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende, who has led the Forum since 2017 and previously served as Norway’s foreign minister, said he made the decision after careful consideration and in the interest of allowing the organization to move forward without distraction. His tenure included overseeing annual gatherings in Davos that convened heads of state, CEOs, academics, and civil society leaders to address global economic and geopolitical challenges.
The renewed attention stems from U.S. Justice Department materials that revealed Brende attended several business dinners with Epstein in 2018 and 2019 and exchanged communications during that period. Brende has said he was unaware of the full scope of Epstein’s criminal conduct at the time and expressed regret that he did not scrutinize the relationship more closely.
Earlier this month, the Forum initiated an independent review to assess the matter. According to the organization’s leadership, the review did not uncover additional concerns beyond what had already been publicly reported. Still, the growing public focus on past associations with Epstein created reputational pressure for global institutions and their leaders.
The Forum’s board has appointed Managing Director Alois Zwinggi as interim president and CEO while it begins the search for a permanent successor. The leadership transition comes at a sensitive moment for the organization, as it seeks to maintain credibility and influence amid heightened global scrutiny of elite networks and governance standards.
Brende’s departure adds to a broader pattern of institutional fallout linked to the ongoing release of Epstein-related records. While no criminal charges have been brought against him, the episode underscores how even limited past associations are reshaping leadership conversations across politics, finance, and global policy circles.
