The President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Børge Brende, has resigned, just weeks after an independent investigation was launched into his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement was made on Thursday.

Brende, a Norwegian politician who assumed the WEF presidency in 2017, issued a statement outlining his decision. Recent documents released by the United States Department of Justice reveal that Brende attended three business dinners with Epstein and maintained regular contact via emails and brief messages.

In his resignation statement, Brende said, “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. The past eight and a half years have been extraordinarily productive and rewarding.” However, he did not explicitly reference Epstein in the public statement.

The former Norwegian Foreign Minister added, “I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and partners. I believe that stepping aside now is the right moment to allow the Forum’s important work to continue without distraction.”

Previously, Brende had maintained that during his first encounter with Epstein in 2018, he was unaware of the financier’s criminal activities. He also expressed regret for not conducting more thorough due diligence at the time.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 for procuring an underage girl for prostitution. His associations have embroiled a number of influential business leaders, seasoned politicians, and even members of the British royal family in controversy.

Independent Investigation Completed

The Geneva-based WEF, known for its annual Davos conference on global economic issues, confirmed that the independent inquiry into Brende’s links with Epstein has concluded. Co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink stated that external legal counsel conducted the review and “found no new concerns beyond what was already publicly disclosed.”

Alois Zwinggi has been appointed as the interim President and CEO, while the WEF Board of Trustees will oversee the search for a permanent successor and manage the leadership transition.

Broader Context

Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan prison in 2019 while facing trial on charges of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. The DOJ recently released over 300,000 pages of documents detailing his associations with global figures, including former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The release of these documents has prompted ongoing investigations outside the United States, including into the activities of the UK’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and other prominent individuals linked to Epstein.

The developments underscore the far-reaching consequences of Epstein’s network and the heightened scrutiny faced by global leaders and institutions associated with him.