World Economic Forum chief Børge Brende quits over Epstein links

Børge Brende, the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF), announced his resignation on Thursday amid scrutiny over his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This decision follows the launch of an independent investigation by the WEF into Brende's ties to Epstein, which were brought to light by recent disclosures from the US Justice Department. These documents revealed that Brende had three business dinners with Epstein and had communicated with him via email. Brende stated that he was "completely unaware" of Epstein's past criminal activities. The WEF's co-chairs have appointed Alois Zwinggi to serve as interim president and CEO while the forum's Board of Trustees oversees the leadership transition. They are also working on a plan to identify a permanent successor for Brende. The investigation into Brende's connections to Epstein complicated the succession race at the prestigious economic organization, which is known for organizing the annual Davos summit. Brende has been with the WEF since 2017, and his resignation marks a significant change in leadership for the organization. The internal investigation was prompted by the release of new documents related to Epstein, further intensifying the scrutiny on Brende's past interactions with the financier.