Borge Brende, the CEO of the World Economic Forum, has resigned following an independent investigation into his connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender. Brende, who had been at the helm of the WEF since 2017, announced his decision to step down, citing his desire to allow the forum to continue its important work without distractions. The investigation revealed that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein and exchanged emails and text messages with him, although it found no additional concerns beyond what had been previously disclosed.
Brende expressed regret over not thoroughly investigating Epstein’s background, stating he was unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities. The WEF’s co-chairs, Larry Fink and Andre Hoffmann, thanked Brende for his significant contributions and announced Alois Zwinggi as interim president and CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor.
