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Borge Brende, President and Chief Executive of the World Economic Forum, has announced his resignation following an investigation by the Forum into his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende said Thursday that his decision to step down after more than eight years in the role came “after careful consideration.”
“I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with our colleagues, partners and constituents, and I believe now is the right time for the Forum to continue its important work without disruption,” he said in a statement.
The WEF, known for its annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, every January, launched an investigation earlier this month after the US Justice Department released millions of files on late sex offender Epstein.
Brenda is the latest high-profile person to be caught up in the fallout from the release of the Epstein files, following former US Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers’ decision this week to step down from his teaching role at Harvard University.
Former US Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton will testify on Thursday before US Congressional lawmakers investigate Epstein. Meanwhile, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has been released on bail and has denied wrongdoing.
In a statement, WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said of Brende’s resignation: “We want to express our sincere appreciation for Borge Brende’s significant contributions to the World Economic Forum. His dedication and leadership have been vital during an important period of reforms for the organization, leading to a successful Annual Meeting in Davos. We respect his decision to step down.”
Alois Zinggi will serve as interim president and chief executive while the board oversees the leadership transition.
The DoJ’s files show iMessage exchanges between Epstein and Brande in 2018 and 2019. In a message after the dinner, Brende wrote: “Thank you for a very interesting dinner… You are a wonderful host. Warmly, Borge,” later adding: “Missing you sir. Borge.”
In another exchange, when Epstein outlined advice he gave to a Middle Eastern leader, Brende responded: “Agreed. I’m glad you’re giving him advice.” The two also discussed Davos and potential attendees.
The documents show that Epstein appeared to be targeting senior people associated with the WEF, including Brende, in search of introductions and influence in Davos.
The resignation comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the Swiss organization, which has long been considered a stable convening platform for political and business elites but is facing scrutiny from multiple directions. In recent years the Forum has faced criticism over its governance.
Founder Klaus Schwab, who had led the platform since its founding in 1971, stepped down as chairman of the board in April 2025 amid an internal investigation due to whistleblower allegations and questions about governance. Fink and Hoffman were appointed in August to steer the platform through the reform process.
The investigation into Brende’s ties to Epstein – in addition to the turmoil caused by Schwab’s exit – has disrupted succession planning for the role of WEF president. The FT reported earlier this month that “it is no longer a foregone conclusion” for European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, Schwab’s handpicked successor, to take over.
