World Economic Forum president resigns over ties to Jeffrey Epstein
GENEVA — Børge Brende, the president of the World Economic Forum (WEF), has resigned following intense scrutiny over his past association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende, who led the international organization for more than eight years, recently admitted to dining with Epstein three times in 2018 and 2019. The admission contradicts a statement he made in November, in which he denied having any contact with the financier.
The relationship was exposed after the U.S. Department of Justice released documents containing text messages and emails between the two men. Following the disclosure, the WEF launched an independent review that concluded there were no additional concerns beyond what had already been revealed.
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, stated he was unaware of the crimes committed by Epstein. Epstein was convicted in 2008 of procuring a minor for prostitution.
The resignation makes Brende the latest high-profile figure to step down amid fallout from the Epstein scandal. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers recently announced he would resign from his teaching position at Harvard University.
Last week, billionaire Thomas Pritzker also resigned as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels. Pritzker acknowledged he exercised "poor judgment" by maintaining contact with Epstein.
Saigon Sentinel Analysis
The resignation of Børge Brende from the World Economic Forum (WEF) represents far more than a routine leadership transition; it is a seismic blow to the institutional credibility of the global elite. The Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to act as a reputational time bomb, exerting a corrosive influence on the highest echelons of finance, politics, and academia years after his death.
The fundamental crisis here is one of transparency and governance. The pattern of initial denials followed by admissions only in the face of mounting evidence has profoundly undermined public trust. This "denial-until-proven" crisis management strategy has served only to validate growing populist skepticism regarding the integrity of global institutional leaders.
For the WEF—an organization whose primary capital is influence and moral authority—this fallout is existential. It raises urgent questions about the vetting processes and ethical standards of the individuals tasked with shaping the global policy agenda. The departures of figures such as Brende, alongside the scrutiny facing peers like Larry Summers and Thomas Pritzker, signal the arrival of a new era of accountability. In this tightening regulatory and social climate, past associations are no longer evaluated solely on their legality; if they contravene core ethical mandates, they are increasingly treated as disqualifying liabilities.