The head of the World Economic Forum is out. Børge Brende stepped down Thursday as president and CEO of the WEF after US Justice Department files revealed past contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende, who has led the Davos-based organization since 2017 and previously served as Norway’s foreign minister, announced his resignation in a public statement. He did not reference Epstein in that announcement.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8-1/2 years, has been profoundly rewarding,” Brende said. “I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions.”
The resignation follows the release last month of Department of Justice documents outlining Epstein’s contacts with political and business leaders. According to the disclosures, Brende attended three business dinners with Epstein and exchanged emails and text messages with him.
Earlier this month, Brende acknowledged the interactions. He said he was invited in 2018 to a dinner in New York by former Norwegian politician Terje Rød-Larsen, where Epstein was introduced as an American investor. He said he later attended two additional dinners the following year.
“The following year, I attended two similar dinners with Epstein, alongside other diplomats and business leaders. These dinners, and a few emails and SMS messages, were the extent of my interactions with him,” Brende said in a prior statement.
“I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities.”
The World Economic Forum confirmed it had launched an independent review into Brende’s relationship with Epstein in recent weeks. That review was ongoing at the time of his resignation.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution and served about a year in jail. He continued to associate with prominent figures before being arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. Epstein died in prison later that year while awaiting trial.
Brende, who has led the Davos-based organization since 2017 and previously served as Norway’s foreign minister, announced his resignation in a public statement. He did not reference Epstein in that announcement.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8-1/2 years, has been profoundly rewarding,” Brende said. “I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions.”
The resignation follows the release last month of Department of Justice documents outlining Epstein’s contacts with political and business leaders. According to the disclosures, Brende attended three business dinners with Epstein and exchanged emails and text messages with him.
Earlier this month, Brende acknowledged the interactions. He said he was invited in 2018 to a dinner in New York by former Norwegian politician Terje Rød-Larsen, where Epstein was introduced as an American investor. He said he later attended two additional dinners the following year.
“The following year, I attended two similar dinners with Epstein, alongside other diplomats and business leaders. These dinners, and a few emails and SMS messages, were the extent of my interactions with him,” Brende said in a prior statement.
“I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities.”
The World Economic Forum confirmed it had launched an independent review into Brende’s relationship with Epstein in recent weeks. That review was ongoing at the time of his resignation.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution and served about a year in jail. He continued to associate with prominent figures before being arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. Epstein died in prison later that year while awaiting trial.
