Bjørn Brende has announced his resignation as President of the World Economic Forum, citing the need to pass the leadership to someone else following his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
Bjørn Brende has decided to step down from his role as the President of the World Economic Forum (WEF) after eight years, expressing the view that both the WEF and he personally would benefit from a leadership change. His resignation comes amidst concerns that the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein could distract from the important work of the forum. Brende emphasized that an 'external review' related to his conduct did not reveal any new information that had not already been thoroughly discussed in the media.
Brende’s name has surfaced in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the Epstein case. It was noted that he maintained contact with Epstein up until the notorious financier's suicide in prison in 2019. This connection prompted the WEF to announce the initiation of an independent investigation into the matter, the results of which have now been made public, asserting that no further doubts exist beyond what has already been disclosed.
Initially, Brende denied having contact with Epstein; however, he later acknowledged interactions that occurred in 2018 and 2019, leading to heightened scrutiny of his role at the WEF. His decision to resign reflects a broader attempt by organizations and individuals associated with Epstein to distance themselves from his controversial legacy, while also aiming to protect the integrity of the World Economic Forum as it continues to address critical global economic issues.
