Børge Brende has stepped down from his role as World Economic Forum president and CEO after facing criticism for his alleged connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
“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,” Brende said in a statement, according to Fox News.
“CEO of World Economic Forum resigns. You’re welcome,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) commented.
CEO of World Economic Forum resigns.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 26, 2026
You’re welcome. https://t.co/oH3WETL1Rj
Fox News explained further:
Disclosures by the U.S. Justice Department indicated that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein and engaged him in communications through email and texts, according to Reuters.
“In light of these interactions, the Governing Board requested the Audit and Risk Committee to look into the matter, which subsequently decided to initiate an independent review,” the WEF noted in a statement, the outlet reported earlier this month. “This decision underscores the Forum’s commitment to transparency and maintaining its integrity.”
In the statement about Brende’s departure, the globalist body noted, “The independent review conducted by outside counsel has concluded. The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.”
WEF’s co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink said in a statement on behalf of the board of trustees that they wanted “to express our sincere appreciation for Børge Brende’s significant contributions to the World Economic Forum.”
Brende joins a growing list of high-profile resignations following the Justice Department’s latest Epstein file release.
The fallout from the latest release has reverberated around the world, leading some people named in the files to step down from their posts.https://t.co/jnJswV28OW
— TIME (@TIME) February 21, 2026
Axios has more:
Former Harvard president Larry Summers announced Wednesday he will resign his positions at the university following backlash to his relationship with Epstein.
He also resigned from the OpenAI board amid the fallout.
Tom Pritzker announced his retirement as executive chair of Hyatt Hotels and expressed regret about his past association with Epstein and his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
“I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” said the billionaire Hyatt heir.
Brad Karp — chair of top corporate law firm Paul, Weiss — resigned after his emails with Epstein were revealed in the files.
“Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm,” he said in a statement.
Kathy Ruemmler, top counsel at Goldman Sachs and a former White House counsel to former President Obama, resigned after emails showed her close relationship with Epstein and her downplaying his sex crimes, per AP.
Casey Wasserman, a high-profile Hollywood talent agent who chairs the LA28 Olympic committee, said he would sell his agency after his Epstein ties were disclosed. He also lost high-profile clients, including Chappell Roan and Abby Wambach.
