Børge Brende Resigns from World Economic Forum Amid Epstein Controversy
Børge Brende's Resignation from WEF
Børge Brende has announced his resignation as the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), following scrutiny regarding his past connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. On Thursday, Brende stated that it was the appropriate time for the Forum to proceed with its mission 'without distractions,' after serving in this capacity for over eight years. His resignation comes shortly after the WEF initiated an independent investigation prompted by revelations from the US Department of Justice, which indicated that Brende had participated in three business dinners with Epstein and had communicated with him via emails and text messages.
Brende has previously claimed that these interactions were strictly professional and that he was unaware of Epstein's criminal background at the time. In his resignation statement, he did not specifically reference Epstein but described his time at the Forum as 'profoundly rewarding' and expressed appreciation for his colleagues and partners, as reported by a news agency.
The Geneva-based Forum, renowned for its annual Davos summit that gathers global political and business leaders, confirmed that its board had conducted an independent review regarding the situation. The investigation reportedly found no further issues beyond those already made public.
In the wake of Brende's exit, Alois Zwinggi, the Managing Director of WEF, will take on the role of interim president and CEO while the board manages the transition and searches for a permanent replacement. Brende, who previously served as Norway's foreign minister, has been instrumental in guiding the Forum's global agenda on economic collaboration, climate initiatives, and technological governance. His resignation adds to the series of high-profile consequences linked to Epstein, whose associations with political and financial elites continue to provoke investigations and leadership changes globally.