Børge Brende, president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum, is stepping down after more than eight and a half years at the helm, following renewed scrutiny of his past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move, announced Thursday, came shortly after newly released U.S. Justice Department documents highlighted his communications with Epstein. Brende said he believed it was "the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions."
Board Says Review Found No Additional Concerns
In a press statement, WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said the Board had commissioned an independent review by outside counsel that "found no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed" and that Alois Zwinggi would serve as interim president and CEO, according to the World Economic Forum. The co-chairs thanked Brende for his leadership during a period of organizational reform and said the Board of Trustees will oversee the search for a permanent successor. They framed the shift as a way to let the Forum focus on its programs and partners without further distraction.
Documents Show Dinners And Messages
The resignation followed publication of Justice Department documents that described dinners and exchanges between Brende and Epstein, including three business dinners in 2018 and 2019 and messages that referenced Davos and other meetings. Those details prompted the forum's risk review, according to reporting by Business Insider. The disclosures reignited public questions about who in global business and politics continued to meet with Epstein after his 2008 conviction, and for governance critics, the files underscored how old relationships can turn into present-day reputational landmines for institutions that convene elite networks.
Brende's Response And Cooperation
Brende has told Norwegian media that his interactions with Epstein were limited to formal, business-style dinners and that he was unaware of Epstein's criminal history; he also said he was cooperating with the review, according to the Associated Press. In his resignation statement, Brende did not mention Epstein by name but repeated that the Forum must be able to operate without distraction. He thanked colleagues and partners and asked that the organization be allowed to continue its work as leadership transitions.
Succession And Reputation Risks
Brende's departure complicates succession planning at the Geneva-based forum and follows other leadership upheavals that have already put governance under the microscope, the Financial Times reports. The outlet notes that the change could reshape discussions about potential successors and the Forum's strategy for restoring confidence among national and corporate partners. For Davos regulars and sponsors, the episode is a pointed reminder that institutional reputations can be swiftly affected by fresh disclosures about past personal networks.
What's Next
The Board of Trustees said it will oversee an orderly transition while the Forum continues its programming and partnerships, and named Alois Zwinggi interim leader to run day-to-day operations, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Board members signaled they intend to move quickly to select a permanent successor and to reinforce governance processes that advisers and donors expect. For now, Brende's exit stands as the latest fallout from the unsealed Epstein files that continue to reshape how powerful institutions handle past ties to the disgraced financier.
