World Economic Forum CEO Resigns After Review of Jeffrey Epstein Ties

GENEVA — Børge Brende, the president and chief executive officer of the World Economic Forum, announced his resignation on February 26, 2026, weeks after the organization launched an independent investigation into his past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein .

The former Norwegian foreign minister, who had led the Geneva-based forum since 2017, said in a statement that he had decided after “careful consideration” to step down from his role at the organization best known for its annual summit in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos .

“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,” Brende said in his resignation statement .

Brende made no mention of Epstein or the controversy surrounding their relationship in his announcement .

The Epstein Connection

Brende’s resignation follows disclosures from the U.S. Department of Justice, which released a tranche of Epstein-related documents in late January 2026 as part of an ongoing effort to make public files related to the deceased financier’s extensive network of contacts .

According to the released materials, Brende had three business dinners with Epstein between 2018 and 2019, and maintained communication with him through email and text messages . The contacts occurred after Epstein had already been convicted and registered as a sex offender for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008 .

The World Economic Forum announced on February 5 that it had launched an independent external investigation into Brende’s relationship with Epstein, conducted by outside counsel .

Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK at the time the investigation was announced, Brende said he was cooperating fully and maintained that he only met Epstein in business settings. He stated he had been “completely unaware” of Epstein’s criminal background and expressed regret for not having investigated the financier more thoroughly .

Investigation Findings

In a separate statement issued following Brende’s resignation, World Economic Forum co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink announced that the independent review had been completed .

“The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed,” Hoffmann and Fink said .

The co-chairs expressed gratitude for Brende’s contributions during his eight-and-a-half-year tenure, noting that his leadership had been “instrumental during a pivotal period of reforms for the organization, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos” .

They announced that Alois Zwinggi, a managing director on the WEF’s executive body, will serve as interim president and CEO while the organization’s Board of Trustees oversees a process to identify a permanent successor .

Broader Context of Epstein Files Release

Brende’s resignation comes amid a wave of scrutiny facing numerous public figures following the release of thousands of pages of documents related to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges .

In December 2025, under mounting public pressure, the U.S. Justice Department began releasing涉案文件, with the latest batch in January 2026 comprising more than 3 million pages of documents, over 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images .

The materials have drawn numerous Norwegian figures into controversy. Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland was charged with “gross corruption” earlier in February 2026 over his ties with Epstein, according to police statements . Crown Princess Mette-Marit and diplomats Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen have also faced public scrutiny over their connections to the disgraced financier .

Being named in the Epstein files does not indicate criminality, and Brende has not been accused of any wrongdoing beyond his acknowledged contacts .

Brende’s Career and Legacy

Brende, a seasoned Norwegian politician who served as his country’s foreign minister from 2013 to 2017, took the helm of the World Economic Forum at a time when the organization was seeking to expand its global influence . Under his leadership, the Davos summit continued to attract heads of state, corporate leaders, and civil society figures from around the world, solidifying its position as a premier gathering for the global elite .

In his farewell statement, Brende described his tenure as “profoundly rewarding” and thanked colleagues, partners, and constituents for their collaboration . His departure marks the second high-profile exit from the organization’s leadership in recent months, following the departure of founder Klaus Schwab amid separate accusations of financial misconduct, from which he was cleared after an investigation .

This year’s Davos meeting in January was the first held without Schwab’s involvement in a leadership capacity .

WEF’s Path Forward

The World Economic Forum now faces the challenge of navigating a leadership transition while managing renewed questions over governance and accountability at the highest levels . Interim CEO Alois Zwinggi steps into the role with immediate effect, tasked with maintaining organizational stability while the Board of Trustees undertakes the search for a permanent successor .

Hoffmann and Fink emphasized that the Board of Trustees “will oversee the leadership transition including the plan to drive a proper process to identify a permanent successor” .

For Brende, the resignation closes a chapter marked by both the forum’s expanding global profile and, ultimately, the scrutiny that accompanied the Epstein revelations. As he departs, his statement leaves no doubt about his desire to allow the organization to move forward — “without distractions” .

with inputs from
LA Times: WEF head Brende steps down Epstein
BBC: WEF boss quits Epstein review
Reuters: WEF CEO quits Epstein scrutinized
NYT: WEF President resigns Epstein

For broader context, see our in-depth analysis on Modern World Order Explained: Power, Alliances & Global Systems.

Also in this section: Russia Opens Criminal Investigation Against Telegram Founder Pavel Durov on Terrorism Facilitation Charges and Japan to Deploy Missile Systems on Island Near Taiwan by 2031, Drawing Sharp Chinese Rebuke.