World Economic Forum CEO steps down after appearing in the Epstein files, marking more turmoil for WEF

Yet another powerful person has stepped down after being named in the Epstein files.

Børge Brende, president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), best known for hosting an annual summit of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, has stepped down after an internal investigation into his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement released Thursday, Brende announced that after eight years in his role, he’d be resigning in the wake of the latest batch of files released from the federal investigation into Epstein. 

“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.

WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink also released a statement on behalf of the Board of Trustees, thanking Brende for his years of service and respecting his choice to step down.

“His dedication and leadership have been instrumental during a pivotal period of reforms for the organization, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos,” they said. They also noted that the WEF’s investigation into Brende found “no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”

Though Brende had previously claimed he “was completely unaware of [Epstein’s] criminal acts and past” in statements to the Norwegian media, the newly released collection of Epstein files tell a different story. Epstein and Brende stayed in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008, with messages between the two continuing through at least mid-2019, just months before Epstein died in jail.

In one text exchange, Epstein appears to have sent Brende a letter by his lawyers that was published in the The New York Times, which included the claim, “The number of young women involved in the investigation has been vastly exaggerated.” Brende replied to the letter with a thumbs-up emoji.

Brende’s resignation comes less than a year after the last shakeup at the WEF. In April 2025, founder Klaus Schwab stepped down as chair of its board, and a month later in May, the board opened an investigation into Schwab after an anonymous letter accused him of misusing funds and making inappropriate comments toward women. Between the two scandals, the WEF’s reputation as a mecca for world leaders has taken a massive hit.

In Brende’s absence, the WEF’s managing director Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO.

Brende is far from the only executive to step down after appearing in the Epstein files. Since the newest batch of files released on January 30, business leaders including Hollywood agent Casey Wasserman and former general counsel for Goldman Sachs Kathryn Ruemmler have resigned from their positions, while political figures including Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, and Peter Mandelson, the country’s ambassador to Washington, have been arrested for their ties to Epstein. 

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