The President and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Borge Brende, has announced his resignation, expressing regret over his handling of interactions with U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Brende’s decision, disclosed on Thursday, follows an independent review launched by the forum into his ties with Epstein. Reports show that Brende had three business dinners with Epstein and exchanged emails and text messages with him.
In a statement, Brende said: “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning eight and a half years, has been profoundly rewarding.”
While the WEF statement did not mention Epstein directly, Brende told Norwegian media that he regretted how he managed the relationship and did not want the matter to distract the organisation, which annually convenes global leaders in Davos.
Brende, who became WEF president in 2017 after serving as Norway’s foreign minister, said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal history before first meeting him in 2018 and wished he had investigated more thoroughly.
In an interview with a Norwegian business publication, Brende acknowledged that although the independent review found no new issues, the controversy risked overshadowing the forum’s work. He admitted regret over not being more transparent regarding the dinners and communications.
Released text messages from 2018–2019 suggest a cordial tone between Brende and Epstein. In one, Brende referred to Epstein as a “brilliant host” and wrote “missing you Sir” after a dinner that included former Trump aide Steve Bannon and a former Norwegian minister. Their final communication occurred a week before Epstein’s arrest in 2019.
Epstein had been convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor and later faced federal sex-trafficking charges. He died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.
WEF co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink said the independent review confirmed no additional concerns beyond what had been previously disclosed. They praised Brende’s leadership, noting his role in major organisational reforms and the success of recent Davos meetings.
The forum announced that WEF Managing Director Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO, with the Board of Trustees overseeing the search for a permanent successor.
Brende’s resignation marks a significant leadership change for the Geneva-based forum, allowing it to shift focus back to its global economic and policy agenda.
