World Economic Forum head Børge Brende said Thursday that he’s stepping down after facing pressure over his contacts with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, said in an announcement that he had decided “after careful consideration” to step down as president and chief executive of the forum, known for its annual January summit within the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos.
“I’m grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners, and constituents, and I imagine now’s the proper moment for the Forum to proceed its essential work without distractions,” Brende said in an announcement released by the WEF.
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Brende was Norway’s foreign minister from 2013-2017 and is certainly one of several outstanding Norwegians who’ve faced scrutiny following the most recent release of Epstein files.
He didn’t refer on to that controversy in Thursday’s statement, however the WEF announced earlier this month that it was opening an internal review into Brende to find out his relationship with Epstein after files indicated the 2 had dined together several times and exchanged messages.
Brende told Norwegian broadcaster NRK on the time that he was cooperating with the investigation, that he only met Epstein in business settings and that he had been unaware of Epstein’s criminal background.
WEF co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said in an announcement that “the independent review conducted by outside counsel has concluded. The findings stated that there have been no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”
They said that Alois Zwinggi will serve because the forum’s interim president and CEO.
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