By Tom Ozimek
Contributing Writer
World Economic Forum President and Chief Executive Borge Brende announced on Thursday that he is stepping down, following mounting scrutiny over his past contacts with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister who has led the forum since 2017, said in a Thursday statement that he had decided “after careful consideration” to resign from the organization best known for its annual January 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 a statement released by the WEF. He did not directly reference Epstein.
The resignation follows the U.S. Department of Justice’s release last month of more than 3 million pages of documents related to Epstein, including emails and correspondence with prominent figures across politics, academia, finance and philanthropy.
The files showed that Brende corresponded with Epstein in 2018 and 2019 and had arranged to meet him at his New York residence in June 2019.
Emails Detail Davos Contacts, Proposed Meeting
In one email exchange in September 2018, Brende said he hoped to see Epstein during his next stay in Davos, and Epstein responded that he believes the WEF “can really replace the U.N.” as a forum for international coordination on topics such as “cyber, crypto, genetics.”
In another exchange in mid 2019 with Epstein’s assistant Lesley Groff, Brende confirmed plans for an 8:30 p.m. meeting and responded to a question about dining preferences by writing: “I’m looking forward — sushi would be amazing.”
Earlier this month, the WEF said it was opening an internal review into Brende’s relationship with Epstein after the documents indicated the two had dined together multiple times and exchanged messages.
Brende told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he was cooperating fully with the investigation, maintained that his interactions with Epstein occurred in business settings, and said he had been unaware of Epstein’s criminal background at the time of their meetings.
In a statement following completion of the review, WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said that “the independent review conducted by outside counsel has concluded. The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”
They announced that Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO while the organization determines its next steps.
Fallout Widens as Other Leaders Step Down
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution from a minor, serving 18 months in jail before his release in 2009. He was arrested again in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and died in prison the following month while awaiting trial in what has been ruled a suicide.
The newly released DOJ documents also shed light on Epstein’s efforts to cultivate influence at high-profile global gatherings. Emails show that before and after his 2008 conviction, Epstein repeatedly offered to help associates navigate the WEF’s Davos meetings, at times referring to himself as the “Davos Concierge,” arranging lodging or introductions to government officials and business leaders.
Brende is among a growing number of prominent figures who have stepped down from leadership roles following scrutiny over their past associations with Epstein.
Earlier this week, Richard Axel, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist and co-director of Columbia University’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, resigned from his leadership post after emails showed he maintained contact with Epstein over several years. Axel called his association with Epstein a “serious error in judgment” and apologized for compromising trust.
Other high-profile departures tied to Epstein-related scrutiny include Kathryn Ruemmler, the general counsel of Goldman Sachs, and Thomas Pritzker, the executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels. Former Harvard University president Larry Summers has also resigned from the Ivy League institution following renewed attention to his connections.
In the United Kingdom, former ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid investigations linked to the newly released documents and was later released on bail, according to British authorities. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has also faced renewed legal scrutiny related to his ties to Epstein.
