Overview
- Brende announced his departure after U.S. Justice Department files detailed three dinners and communications with Jeffrey Epstein in 2018 and 2019.
- The World Economic Forum said an independent review by outside counsel identified no additional issues beyond what was already public.
- Alois Zwinggi was appointed interim president and CEO as the Board of Trustees begins a search for a permanent successor.
- Brende, who led the Geneva-based forum since 2017, said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal history and described the interactions as limited.
- The DOJ document release continues to spur scrutiny of other high-profile figures, with further inquiries and actions developing internationally.