Borge Brende has stepped down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF) following revelations about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a financier convicted of sex crimes. In a statement, Brende expressed gratitude for his time at the WEF and emphasized the need for the organization to continue its work without distractions.
Brende stated, “After careful consideration, I have decided to resign from my position… I am thankful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and stakeholders. I believe it is now time for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions.” His departure comes as the WEF prepares for a transition in leadership.
Co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink announced that Alois Zwingi will serve as the interim head of the organization. They noted that the Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition and ensure a thorough process for selecting a permanent successor. An independent review conducted by an external legal consultant found no additional concerns beyond those already disclosed.
Brende thanked Hoffmann and Fink for their unwavering support and partnership, expressing hope for the Forum’s future success under Zwingi’s leadership.
Background on Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein had extensive ties to prominent figures in American politics and entertainment. He was long suspected of trafficking minors for sexual exploitation but managed to evade serious charges for years. In July 2019, authorities reopened investigations into Epstein, leading to his arrest on charges of sexual abuse and trafficking minors.
Epstein was found dead in his jail cell on August 10, 2019, with the official ruling being suicide. Two prison guards later admitted to sleeping and browsing the internet during their shifts instead of monitoring Epstein as required, and they faced consequences for their actions.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, was arrested in the summer of 2020. Prosecutors allege that she helped Epstein by grooming underage girls and facilitating their exploitation. In December 2021, a New York court found Maxwell guilty of aiding in the sexual abuse of minors.
On November 12, 2025, the U.S. House Oversight Committee released 20,000 pages of private correspondence related to Epstein, which included mentions of former President Donald Trump. The documents suggested that Trump had spent time with one of Epstein’s trafficking victims in 2011.
The White House dismissed the released documents as fraudulent, with spokesperson Caroline Levitt asserting that Trump had expelled Epstein from his club and had no involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. On November 17, Trump urged House Republicans to vote for the release of Epstein’s files to counter what he described as a Democratic deception. The following day, the House supported the initiative, leading to Trump signing a bill requiring the Justice Department to release all non-secret documents related to Epstein.
On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released over three million additional pages of documents concerning Epstein, including more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.
Borge Brende has resigned from his role at the World Economic Forum following links to Jeffrey Epstein. The organization will be temporarily led by Alois Zwingi as it navigates this leadership transition.