Borg Brende Leaves WEF After Epstein Link Review

A Norwegian former foreign minister, Borg Brende, has stepped down as the head of the World Economic Forum after an external probe looked into his past meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Brende had led the organization since 2017 and said his resignation comes after a thorough review that confirmed no new problems beyond what was already public. The U. S. Justice Department had revealed that Brende once shared business lunches with Epstein and exchanged emails and texts with him.He explained his decision by saying he felt the Forum should keep working on global issues without any distraction. The WEF’s co‑chairs, Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink, confirmed the investigation finished without extra concerns. They announced that Alois Zwinggi will temporarily run the Forum while a board‑appointed process seeks a permanent successor. Brende’s move highlights how public figures must manage past associations, especially when they hold influential positions in global institutions.