The boss of the World Economic Forum (WEF) has quit following criticism of his connections to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Børge Brende said he will step down as president and chief executive after more than eight years leading the body, which is best known for its annual meeting held each January in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos.
His departure comes after the forum launched an independent review after Brende admitted dining with Epstein on three occasions in 2018 and 2019.
Recently published documents also showed texts and emails between the pair.
Brende, who was previously the Norwegian foreign minister, claims he had been unaware of the crimes of the financier, who had been convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
In November, Brende denied having any contact with Epstein – but has since admitted to knowing him after their relationship came to light following the release of documents by the US Department of Justice.
The WEF, which is based in Geneva, said its review had concluded “there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed”.
Brende’s resignation adds to the list of well-known business figures and economists who have stood down over their links to the financier.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Larry Summers, the former US treasury secretary and former president of Harvard University, would resign from teaching at the end of the academic year “in connection with the ongoing review by the university of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein that were recently released by the government”, a Harvard spokesperson said.
Last week the billionaire Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the hotel chain Hyatt, after admitting exercising “terrible judgment” in maintaining contact with the sex offender and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls.
Brende, in a statement about his resignation from the WEF, said: “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum.
“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.”
In a joint statement, the WEF co-chairs, André Hoffmann and Larry Fink, said: “We wish to express our sincere appreciation for Børge Brende’s significant contributions to the World Economic Forum.
“His dedication and leadership have been instrumental during a pivotal period of reforms for the organisation, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos.
“We respect his decision to step down.”
