Børge Brende has resigned as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum following an independent investigation into his past interactions with late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The move comes just weeks after Brende interviewed Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
In a public statement, Brende announced that he was stepping down after more than eight years in leadership, saying it was the right time for the Forum to move forward without distraction.
Investigation Into Epstein Meetings
The WEF launched an independent review earlier this month after it was revealed that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein in 2018 and 2019. Emails also showed that the two had communicated through messages.
One of the dinners reportedly took place at Epstein’s New York home, only weeks before his 2019 arrest on federal charges related to child sex trafficking.
Brende later said he had been unaware of Epstein’s criminal past at the time. He admitted that he could have looked more deeply into Epstein’s background and expressed regret over not doing so.
Importantly, the review found no evidence of wrongdoing beyond the already known interactions.
Part of Wider Fallout From Epstein Files
Brende’s resignation is the latest linked to the release of documents often called the “Epstein files.” These records include emails and other communications involving global business and political figures.
Several well-known leaders have stepped down in recent years after their connections to Epstein became public — even when no legal charges were filed.
Among those named in similar situations are:
- Leon Black of Apollo Global Management
- Jes Staley of Barclays
- Tom Pritzker of Hyatt Hotels
- Kathy Ruemmler of Goldman Sachs
- Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem of DP World
None of them were charged with any crime.
Leadership Transition Begins
Following Brende’s departure, the WEF announced that Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim CEO while a search for a permanent successor begins.
WEF co-chairs Larry Fink and Andre Hoffmann thanked Brende for his leadership and confirmed that the review had found no additional concerns.
Comes After Earlier Leadership Scrutiny
Brende’s exit also follows the recent stepping down of WEF founder Klaus Schwab last year after whistleblower allegations. A later investigation found no material wrongdoing in that case.
Reputation Matters More Than Ever
While no illegal activity was linked to Brende, his resignation highlights how past associations can affect global leadership roles.
The situation reflects growing pressure on major institutions to maintain transparency and public trust — even when investigations find no evidence of misconduct.
Clyde Evans is the lead editor for White Pine Tribune. Clyde has been working as a freelance journalist for nearly a decade having published stories in many print and digital publications including, the Financial Post and the Huff Post Canada. Clyde is based in Toronto and covers issues affecting his city and province. When he’s not busy writing, Trevor enjoys canoeing.
