Former Norwegian foreign minister Borge Brende announced on Thursday that he is stepping down as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum in Davos. He said that after careful consideration he decided it was the right time for the Forum to continue its important work “without distractions”. His statement did not mention the name Epstein.
The co‑chairs of the organization, André Hoffmann and Larry Fink, confirmed that they respected Brende’s decision. They said that Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO while the board monitors the transition. The board will also move forward with a process to identify a permanent successor.
Brende’s resignation comes after an independent investigation into his contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. The co‑chairs reported that the inquiry has concluded and that its findings show “no further concerns beyond those already disclosed”.