World Economic Forum chief executive officer Børge Brende is stepping down from his position after it emerged he had ties with convicted paedophile and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
A recent batch of documents in the Epstein files showed Brende arranging to meet the financier at the latter’s home for dinner in New York in 2018 and 2019. The second of those meetings was planned just weeks before Epstein’s arrest in the US on sex-trafficking charges. He died in jail in August that year.
The WEF said earlier this month that it opened a probe into Brende and his relations with Epstein. The former Norwegian foreign minister said at the time that he was “completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities,” though he admitted he should have been more thorough.
The WEF investigation has now concluded, the forum’s co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the findings showed “there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”
In the statement issued this morning (AEDT), Brende said he was stepping down “after careful consideration,” though he made no mention of Epstein or the investigation. He held the role for more than eight years.
The WEF is best known for its annual high-profile gathering in the Swiss mountain town of Davos.
The resignation adds to the turmoil it has experienced over the past year. Klaus Schwab, former CEO, left amid accusations of financial misconduct and a clash with the remaining leadership. He was eventually cleared, but only after a months-long investigation that hung over the organisation.
Bloomberg
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