The World Economic Forum announced on Thursday (Feb 5) that it has begun an independent investigation into its CEO, Borge Brende, to clarify the nature of his interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Geneva-based organisation, which hosts the annual Davos summit, said the probe follows disclosures by the US Justice Department indicating that Brende attended three business dinners with Epstein and exchanged emails and text messages with him.

According to the WEF, its Governing Board asked the Audit and Risk Committee to examine the matter, which then decided to commission an external review. The organisation said the move reflects its commitment to transparency and safeguarding its credibility. The WEF added that Brende, who has served as CEO since 2017 after previously holding the post of Norwegian foreign minister, fully supports the review and had personally requested it.

In a statement, Brende said he first met Epstein at a dinner in New York in 2018, which he attended at the invitation of former Norwegian deputy prime minister Terje Rod-Larsen. He said he later joined two similar dinners in 2019 that included diplomats and business leaders, noting that these meetings, along with a limited number of emails and text messages, constituted the entirety of their contact.

Brende said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal history at the time and expressed regret for not conducting deeper background checks before the meetings. He said he would not have accepted the invitations or engaged in any communication had he known about Epstein’s past. The WEF said Brende will remain in his role as CEO while the independent investigation is carried out by external legal counsel.