Davos forum CEO Brende resigns after Epstein links revealed

Borge Brende announced Thursday he is resigning as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, which organizes the annual Davos summit, following revelations of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum," the former Norwegian foreign minister said.

He said his 8.5 years at the helm had "been profoundly rewarding," but he believed "now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions."

Earlier this month, the WEF said it would conduct an independent review of Brende’s interactions with Epstein after his name appeared dozens of times in documents released by the U.S. Justice Department. The WEF said Thursday the review had concluded.

"The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed," the organization said, adding it had "sincere appreciation for Borge Brende's significant contributions to the World Economic Forum" and "respects his decision to step down."

WEF managing director Alois Zwinggi has been appointed interim president and CEO while the board seeks a permanent successor.

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a child for prostitution and served 13 months of an 18-month sentence. He was facing sex trafficking charges when he killed himself in detention in 2019.

Brende said earlier this month that during a 2018 visit to New York, he received an invitation for former Norwegian deputy prime minister Terje Rod-Larsen to join him for dinner with other leaders and "someone who was presented to me as an American investor, Jeffrey Epstein."

"The following year, I attended two similar dinners with Epstein, alongside other diplomats and business leaders. These dinners, and a few emails and SMS messages, were the extent of my interactions with him," he said.

"I was completely unaware of Epstein's past and criminal activities." He added that had he known, he would have declined the initial and subsequent invitations.

Brende acknowledged he could have investigated Epstein's history more thoroughly and regretted not doing so.