President and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Borge Brende has resigned from his roles following revelations of his links with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Brende, a former Norwegian Foreign Minister who became President of the WEF in 2017, steps down after more than eight years leading the body, which is best known for its annual meeting held each January in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos.

In a statement about his resignation from the WEF, Brende said, “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and Chief Executive of the World Economic Forum.”

Brende said in his statement, which made no mention of Epstein, “My time here, spanning 8-1/2 years, has been profoundly rewarding.”

“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.”
Borge Brende

His departure comes after the forum launched an independent review after Brende admitted dining with Epstein on three occasions in 2018 and 2019. Recently published documents also showed texts and emails between the pair.

Brende claims he had been unaware of the crimes of the financier, who had been convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

In November, Brende denied having any contact with Epstein but has since admitted to knowing him after their relationship came to light following the release of documents by the US Department of Justice.

Brende said in a statement earlier this month that during a visit to New York in 2018, he received an invitation from former Norwegian politician Terje Rod-Larsen to join him for dinner with several other leaders, plus “someone who was presented to me as an American investor, Jeffrey Epstein.”

“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. I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities.”
Borge Brende

He said that had he known about Epstein’s background, he would have declined any contact with the convicted sex offender, adding that he regretted not having conducted a more thorough investigation into his past.

Meanwhile, the WEF said that its review had concluded “there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”

In a joint statement, the WEF Co-Chairs, André Hoffmann and Larry Fink, said, “We wish to express our sincere appreciation for Børge Brende’s significant contributions to the World Economic Forum.”

“His dedication and leadership have been instrumental during a pivotal period of reforms for the organisation, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos. We respect his decision to step down.”

The co-chairs said the WEF’s Alois Zwinggi will serve ⁠as interim president and CEO, and that the forum’s board of trustees would oversee the leadership transition, including a plan to identify a permanent replacement.

Brende Joins Ranks Of Figures To Resign Or Face Criminal Investigations Over Epstein Links

Brende’s resignation adds to the list of well-known business figures and economists who have stood downor faced criminal investigations after their contacts with Epstein were revealed in files released by the US Department of Justice last month.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Larry Summers, the former US Treasury Secretary and former President of Harvard University, would resign from teaching at the end of the academic year “in connection with the ongoing review by the university of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein that were recently released by the government”, a Harvard spokesperson said.

In Norway, Thorbjorn Jagland, former Prime Minister and former Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, has been charged with “aggravated corruption” amid an investigation into his connections to Epstein, while Rod-Larsen and his wife Mona Juul, both diplomats, have also been charged.

In the UK, prominent figures including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – formerly Prince Andrew – and Peter Mandelson, the former diplomat, minister, and adviser to multiple Labour Party Prime Ministers, have been arrested over alleged crimes linked to their relationships with Epstein.

Last week, the billionaire Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the hotel chain Hyatt, after admitting exercising “terrible judgment” in maintaining contact with the sex offender and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls.