（Singapore, 27.02.2026）The President and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Borge Brende, has resigned following scrutiny over his past contact with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende announced on Thursday that he would step down after more than eight years leading the Geneva-based organization, which hosts the influential annual Davos summit. His decision comes weeks after the WEF launched an independent review into his relationship with Epstein, following the release of millions of documents by the U.S. Justice Department.
In a statement, Brende said that after “careful consideration,” he believed it was the right time to leave his position. He described his time at the Forum as “profoundly rewarding” but said he did not want the controversy to distract from the organization’s work.
The WEF confirmed that the independent review into Brende’s ties to Epstein had concluded. According to the organization, the review found no additional concerns beyond what had already been disclosed publicly. Brende has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing.
Dinners, Disclosures and Public Scrutiny
Brende acknowledged that he met Epstein three times between 2018 and 2019 for business dinners. He also communicated with him through email and text messages during that period. Brende has previously said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal past when they first met in 2018.
Epstein had been convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor and was registered as a sex offender. However, Brende said he did not know about this history at the time of their initial contact. He later admitted that he regretted not having looked more closely into Epstein’s background.
In interviews with Norwegian media, Brende expressed discomfort over being linked to Epstein. He said he feared that the contact might be portrayed as something more than it was. He also admitted that he regretted not being more transparent about the dinners and the communication that followed.
Text messages released as part of the U.S. investigation showed a friendly tone between the two men. In one exchange, Brende reportedly described Epstein as a “brilliant host” following a dinner attended by several prominent figures. Their last known communication took place about a week before Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex-trafficking charges.
The release of more than three million pages of documents related to Epstein has sparked renewed scrutiny of his connections with global business and political leaders. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial, and his case has continued to draw worldwide attention.
Many high-profile individuals have faced questions over their past associations with him. Being named in the files does not mean a person has committed a crime, but public interest remains intense due to the scale of the investigation and Epstein’s extensive network.
Leadership Transition at the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is best known for its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where heads of state, CEOs, central bankers, and global experts gather to discuss economic, political, and social challenges. Under Brende’s leadership, the Forum navigated major global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, while pushing institutional reforms.
WEF co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink thanked Brende for his contributions. They said his leadership had been instrumental during a pivotal period for the organization and praised his role in delivering successful annual meetings in Davos.
To ensure continuity, Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim President and CEO. The WEF’s Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition and begin the process of identifying a permanent successor.
Brende’s departure follows another major leadership change at the Forum. Last year, founder and long-time chair Klaus Schwab stepped down after facing allegations from a whistleblower. An internal investigation later found no evidence of material wrongdoing by Schwab.
In his resignation statement, Brende emphasized that his decision was made in the best interest of the organization. He said he did not want the ongoing media attention surrounding Epstein to overshadow the Forum’s mission.
“I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions,” he said.
For the WEF, attention now turns to maintaining stability and preparing for future global meetings amid a changing economic and political landscape. The search for a new permanent CEO is expected to draw significant attention, given the Forum’s influential role in shaping global dialogue.
Brende’s resignation marks the end of an eight-and-a-half-year tenure at one of the world’s most prominent international organizations — a tenure that concludes under the shadow of one of the most far-reaching scandals in recent history.
