The president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum, Børge Brende, announced his departure from the organization’s leadership following an internal investigation into his past connections with Jeffrey Epstein.
According to sources, the investigation was conducted internally by the World Economic Forum and examined contacts and relationships between Brende and individuals previously connected to the convicted American financier. Following the completion of the process, he submitted his resignation, which was accepted.
Shock in Davos over Brende’s resignation
The World Economic Forum has not yet announced who will assume the position of president and CEO temporarily or permanently, noting however that established procedures will be followed to ensure smooth continuity of the organization’s operations. This development comes at a time of heightened sensitivity regarding transparency and accountability issues in international organizations, with the WEF seeking, according to sources close to the forum, to maintain its institutional credibility.
Breaking news: The president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum, Børge Brende, has announced his resignation following an investigation by the forum into his links with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. https://t.co/wLkx0oyQlJ pic.twitter.com/GCB0hqxVCV
— Financial Times (@FT) February 26, 2026
