World economic forum President resigns amid review of Epstein contacts

The head of the World Economic Forum, Børge Brende , has stepped down following mounting pressure over his past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein , the organisation announced on Thursday.

Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, said he decided to resign after “careful consideration” in order to allow the Forum to continue its work without distraction. The WEF, best known for hosting its annual January summit in Davos, said his departure would take effect immediately.

Brende served as Norway’s foreign minister from 2013 to 2017 and has led the World Economic Forum since 2017 as its president and chief executive. In recent weeks, his name surfaced in newly released documents related to Epstein, prompting public scrutiny in Norway and abroad.

The controversy emerged after court records and files indicated that Brende and Epstein had met on several occasions and exchanged messages, including dining together multiple times. Earlier this month, the WEF launched an internal review to assess the nature of their relationship.

Brende told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he had cooperated fully with the investigation and insisted that his interactions with Epstein were limited to professional and business-related settings. He also said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal history at the time of their meetings.

In a joint statement, WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said an independent review conducted by outside legal counsel found “no additional concerns beyond what had already been disclosed.”

Despite this conclusion, Brende said he believed stepping aside was in the best interests of the organisation.

The WEF announced that Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and chief executive while the Forum begins the process of appointing a permanent successor.

Brende is among several prominent Norwegian figures whose past links to Epstein have drawn renewed attention following the release of new files, including former prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik , highlighting the continued global fallout from Epstein’s network of elite contacts.