Borge Brende, the Chief Executive Officer of the World Economic Forum, on Thursday stepped down following disclosures about his past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Geneva-headquartered organisation that Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim president and CEO. The announcement was made by Co-Chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink.
Brende, who has led the Forum since 2017, announced his decision after disclosures from the US Justice Department revealed that he had attended three business dinners with Epstein and had exchanged emails and text messages with him.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8-1/2 years, has been profoundly rewarding,” Brende said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
However, Brende did not refer to Epstein in his statement.
Earlier this month, the Forum confirmed it had opened a probe into Brende's links. At the time, the former Norwegian foreign minister said he was “completely unaware of Epstein's past and criminal activities.”
ALSO READ: Epstein Files Fallout: Larry Summers To Step Down From Harvard Amid Row
In a separate statement, Hoffmann and Fink said an independent review conducted by outside counsel into Brende's ties with Epstein had concluded, adding that the findings “identified no concerns beyond those already disclosed.”
“The Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition, including the plan to drive a proper process to identify a permanent successor,” the co-chairs said.
The World Economic Forum, best known for organising its annual Davos summit that brings together heads of state, business leaders and civil society figures, now begins the search for a permanent successor as it navigates renewed scrutiny over governance and accountability at the top.
“The Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition including the plan to drive a proper process to identify a permanent successor,” the statement said.
Earlier this month, the WEF confirmed it had opened a probe into Brende's links. At the time, he said that he was “completely unaware of Epstein's past and criminal activities.”
Also READ: Bill Gates Apologises To Foundation Staff Over Epstein Ties: Report
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum,” Brende said on Thursday, without directly referencing Epstein.
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