Børge Brende, president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, is stepping down after an internal review examined his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The probe zeroed in on three business dinners Brende attended with Epstein in 2018 and 2019, along with follow-up emails and texts. Brende said he was "completely unaware" of Epstein's criminal history at the time and resigned to let the Forum move forward "without distractions."
The review was launched after the US Department of Justice released millions of Epstein-related documents earlier this month, rippling across Europe's political elite. The fallout has already sparked investigations into other high-profile figures, including Norway's former Prime Minister. Alois Zwinggi will step in as interim CEO while the WEF navigates yet another leadership shake-up just months after founder Klaus Schwab exited amid internal turmoil.
📸: Getty
Børge Brende, president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, is stepping down after an internal review examined his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The probe zeroed in on three business dinners Brende attended with Epstein in 2018 and 2019, along with follow-up emails and texts. Brende said he was "completely unaware" of Epstein's criminal history at the time and resigned to let the Forum move forward "without distractions."
The review was launched after the US Department of Justice released millions of Epstein-related documents earlier this month, rippling across Europe's political elite. The fallout has already sparked investigations into other high-profile figures, including Norway's former Prime Minister. Alois Zwinggi will step in as interim CEO while the WEF navigates yet another leadership shake-up just months after founder Klaus Schwab exited amid internal turmoil.
📸: Getty
Børge Brende, president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, is stepping down after an internal review examined his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The probe zeroed in on three business dinners Brende attended with Epstein in 2018 and 2019, along with follow-up emails and texts. Brende said he was "completely unaware" of Epstein's criminal history at the time and resigned to let the Forum move forward "without distractions."
The review was launched after the US Department of Justice released millions of Epstein-related documents earlier this month, rippling across Europe's political elite. The fallout has already sparked investigations into other high-profile figures, including Norway's former Prime Minister. Alois Zwinggi will step in as interim CEO while the WEF navigates yet another leadership shake-up just months after founder Klaus Schwab exited amid internal turmoil.
📸: Getty