The head of the World Economic Forum has resigned following fresh scrutiny over past interactions with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, marking the latest fallout from document releases that continue to reverberate across international business and political circles.
Børge Brende, who served as president and chief executive of the Geneva-based institution since 2017, stepped down saying the organisation should continue its work “without distractions.” His departure came after information disclosed by the US Department of Justice detailed three meetings with Epstein in 2018, including dinners and follow-up communications. Brende has said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal past at the time and that there is no allegation of wrongdoing against him.
The World Economic Forum, founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, convenes political leaders, executives and academics each year in Davos to discuss global economic and geopolitical challenges. Often seen as a barometer of elite consensus, the gathering has long sought to shape international agendas through public-private cooperation.
Messages cited in the disclosures show Brende thanking Epstein for what he described as a “very interesting dinner” and referring to him as a friend, while discussions between the two touched on ideas about reshaping global governance and the forum’s potential future role. In one exchange, Brende referenced that Donald Trump would attend the Davos meeting that year.
The document release has also drawn other figures into controversy. Communications involving Miroslav Lajčák, who was not alleged to have acted improperly, led to his resignation as Slovakia’s national security adviser earlier this month. The widening circle of associations has renewed debate over how Epstein cultivated relationships across influential networks before his death in custody in 2019.
Several prominent business leaders have likewise stepped down from positions following scrutiny of their past links, including hotel executive Thomas Pritzker and attorney Brad Karp of Paul Weiss, as well as a senior legal figure from Goldman Sachs. None have been accused of criminal misconduct, but the reputational consequences have been swift.
In a statement, forum co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said an independent external review found no additional concerns beyond previously disclosed interactions, while expressing appreciation for Brende’s leadership during what they described as a pivotal reform period for the institution.
The leadership transition adds to recent turbulence at the organisation after Schwab himself stepped down as chairman last year following separate allegations he denied. Alois Zwinggi will now serve as interim president and chief executive as the forum reassesses its succession plans.
The search for a long-term chairman had reportedly centered on Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, though the latest developments are expected to complicate that process.
