If you’ve been keeping an eye on the long shadow cast by Jeffrey Epstein’s past relationships, you know the ripple effects are still hitting powerful circles. Now, another prominent figure is making a big decision. Børge Brende is stepping down as president and CEO of the World Economic Forum after renewed attention focused on his previously disclosed interactions with Epstein.
Brende addressed the decision directly. “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.
The renewed attention comes after disclosures by the U.S. Justice Department showed that Brende attended three business dinners with Epstein and exchanged emails and texts with him, according to Reuters. That revelation prompted the Forum’s leadership to take a closer look.
“In light of these interactions, the Governing Board requested the Audit and Risk Committee to look into the matter, which subsequently decided to initiate an independent review,” the WEF noted in a statement earlier this month. “This decision underscores the Forum’s commitment to transparency and maintaining its integrity.”
The organization later said that review has now wrapped up. In announcing Brende’s departure, the Forum stated, “The independent review conducted by outside counsel has concluded. The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”
In other words, investigators did not uncover anything beyond the dinners and communications already reported.
Still, the optics clearly mattered. The World Economic Forum, which hosts the annual gathering of global political and business leaders in Davos, is often under intense public scrutiny. Any association with Epstein, whose crimes and network of high profile contacts have continued to spark outrage years after his death, carries reputational risk.
WEF co chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink made clear that Brende leaves with their appreciation. Speaking on behalf of the board of trustees, they said they wanted “to express our sincere appreciation for Børge Brende’s significant contributions to the World Economic Forum.”
“We respect his decision to step down,” they noted.
For his part, Brende has consistently maintained that his interactions with Epstein were limited and innocent in nature. According to Reuters, he said he first met Epstein at a dinner hosted by former Norwegian Deputy Prime Minister Terje Rod-Larsen. He later attended two similar dinners where Epstein was present. Beyond that, Brende said the total contact amounted to those dinners plus “a few emails and SMS messages,” according to the outlet.
He also made clear that he did not know about Epstein’s criminal history at the time. “I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities,” Brende noted, according to the outlet.
“Had I known about his background, I would have declined the initial invitation to join Rod-Larsen and any subsequent dinner invitations or other communications,” he explained.
For now, the Forum says its independent review found no additional concerns. But in today’s climate, even past associations can have lasting consequences, especially for leaders of high profile global institutions.
