Børge Brende is resigning from his position as president and CEO, following examination of his connections to the deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“I am thankful for the remarkable cooperation with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I feel the present time is appropriate for the Forum to proceed with its vital mission free from disruptions,” Brende stated.
According to disclosures from the U.S. Justice Department, Brende participated in three business meals with Epstein and communicated with him via email and text messages.
“Given these contacts, the Governing Board asked the Audit and Risk Committee to examine the issue, which later opted to commence an independent investigation,” the WEF said in a statement earlier this month. “This action highlights the Forum’s dedication to openness and upholding its integrity.”
In the announcement regarding Brende’s exit, the organization noted, “The independent review carried out by external legal counsel is now complete. The results indicated no further issues beyond those already made public.”
On behalf of the board of trustees, WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink stated they wished “to convey our genuine gratitude for Børge Brende’s substantial contributions to the World Economic Forum.”
“His commitment and guidance have been crucial during a key phase of organizational reforms, resulting in a prosperous annual meeting in Davos. We respect his choice to resign,” they said.
“We are happy to declare that Alois Zwinggi will act as Interim President and CEO and anticipate his ongoing cooperation and alliance moving forward,” Hoffmann and Fink continued. “The Board of Trustees will manage the leadership changeover, which includes the strategy to conduct a suitable search for a permanent replacement.”
Brende claimed in a statement, as reported by Reuters, that he first encountered Epstein at a dinner to which he was invited by former Norwegian Deputy Prime Minister Terje Rod-Larsen.
According to the news agency, Brende said he subsequently attended two more comparable dinners involving Epstein and that these meals, along with “a small number of emails and text messages,” represented the entirety of his contact with Epstein.
“I had no knowledge whatsoever of Epstein’s history and illegal actions,” Brende stated, according to the report.
“If I had been aware of his background, I would have turned down the first invitation from Rod-Larsen and any later dinner invites or other correspondence,” he said.