Børge Brende, president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), announced Feb. 26 that he will step down from his position amid scrutiny over his past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister who has led the WEF since 2017, said in a press release that he decided to resign “after careful consideration.” He did not mention any connection to Epstein in his announcement.
Brende said his time at the forum of more than eight years “has been profoundly rewarding.”
“I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions,” he added.
The WEF opened a probe into Brende earlier this month after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released documents showing that he attended multiple “business dinners” with Epstein. The records indicate Brende also exchanged multiple messages with the late financier years after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. One text exchange between the men occurred on June 30, 2019, just days before Epstein was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking minors.
André Hoffmann and Larry Fink, the co-chairs of the WEF, said in the release that they have “sincere appreciation for Børge Brende’s significant contributions” to the organization, adding that they “respect his decision to step down.” They also announced that Alois Zwinggi, a member of the WEF’s managing board, will serve as interim president and CEO.
“The independent review conducted by outside counsel has concluded. The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed,” Hoffmann and Fink said, regarding the investigation into Brende.
Brende’s exit marks the latest fallout from the Epstein files, which have led to several resignations and legal consequences for high-profile figures in the U.S. and internationally. Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury secretary and tenured professor at Harvard University, and Dr. Peter Attia, a contributor at CBS News, both announced their resignations, Zeale News previously reported. In the UK, Peter Mandelson, a former UK ambassador to the U.S., and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, were both arrested by British authorities after allegedly sharing confidential information with Epstein.
On Feb. 26, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door deposition as part of an ongoing investigation into crimes committed by Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
“I had no idea about their criminal activities,” Clinton said in her opening statement, which she posted on X. “I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein. I never flew on his plane or visited his island home or offices.”
Former president Bill Clinton — who has been photographed with Epstein on multiple occasions — is set to testify before the committee Feb. 27.