WEF President Børge Brende Resigns Over Jeffrey Epstein Connections

Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), announced his resignation following an independent review into his past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The WEF co-chairs accepted his decision, noting the review found no concerns beyond what was already public.

Key points

• Brende, a former Norwegian Foreign Minister, led the Geneva-based forum since 2017.
• The resignation allows the WEF to continue its work without distractions, according to Brende.
• Disclosures from the US Justice Department revealed Brende attended three business dinners with Epstein and exchanged over 100 messages.
• Brende had previously stated publicly in November 2025 that he had no contact with Epstein.
• Alois Zwinggi, the current Managing Director, was named interim President immediately.
• The WEF Board of Trustees will begin the search for a permanent successor.

Why it matters

The resignation of the WEF President due to connections with Jeffrey Epstein highlights the reputational damage such associations can inflict on major global organizations. The incident underscores the scrutiny faced by global figures regarding past associations with controversial individuals.