The World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched an independent review into its chief executive, Borge Brende, to examine his past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The organization said on Thursday that Brende himself requested the investigation following recent disclosures about their meetings and communications.
The move follows the U.S. Justice Department’s release last week of the final tranche of documents from the Epstein case. The vast collection, comprising millions of pages, videos, and images, has intensified public scrutiny of Epstein’s connections to prominent global figures. Many individuals named in the files, including former heads of state, business leaders, and tech entrepreneurs, have been regular attendees at the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos, highlighting the overlap between Epstein’s network and influential circles.
The WEF’s board stated the review will specifically address revelations concerning “three business dinners” Brende attended with Epstein, along with their email and text exchanges. “This decision underscores the Forum’s commitment to transparency and maintaining its integrity,” the organization said in a statement, noting that Brende “fully supports, and cooperates with, this review.”
Brende, who has led the Geneva-based WEF since 2017, will remain in his position but will be excluded from the review process. He stated he was “completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities” and would have refused the invitations had he known. “I recognize that I could have conducted a more thorough investigation into Epstein’s history, and I regret not doing so,” Brende said.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution and served 18 months in prison for offenses involving a minor. He was arrested again
