Borge Brende on Thursday stepped down as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), weeks after the Geneva-based body launched an independent review into his past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende, who has led the WEF since 2017, announced his decision in a statement following disclosures from the US justice department that showed he had three business dinners with Epstein and had communicated with him via email and text message, reported Reuters.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8-1/2 years, has been profoundly rewarding,” Brende said.
“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,” added Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister.
He did not mention Epstein in his statement.
In a separate statement, WEF co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink said the independent review conducted by outside counsel into Brende’s ties with Epstein had concluded, and found no additional concerns beyond what had already been disclosed.
They announced that Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO. The WEF’s Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition and initiate a process to identify a permanent successor.
The WEF organises the annual Davos summit that brings together political and business leaders from across the world.
