News Release

Published
26 Feb 2026
2026
Share

World Economic Forum, public.affairs@weforum.org

Press Statement from Co-Chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink on behalf of the Board of Trustees

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 organization, leading to a successful annual meeting in Davos. We respect his decision to step down.

We are pleased to announce that Alois Zwinggi will serve as Interim President and CEO and looking forward to his continued collaboration and partnership over time. The Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition including the plan to drive a proper process to identify a permanent successor.

The independent review conducted by outside counsel has concluded. The findings stated that there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed.

Press Statement from Børge Brende

After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8½ years, has been profoundly rewarding. We have seen a record number of partners join us, and we have had a very successful Annual Meeting in Davos behind us, where we engaged with governmental leaders from all over the world like never before. 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.

I extend my deepest thanks to the Co-Chairs, André Hoffmann and Larry Fink, for their unwavering support and partnership. I am proud of our shared achievements and look forward to the Forum's future successes under the leadership of my colleague, Alois Zwinggi, as Interim President and CEO.

Notes to editors
Read Forum Stories also in Spanish | Mandarin | Japanese
Learn about the Forum’s impact
Follow the Forum on social media: X | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | TikTok | Weibo | Threads | WhatsApp | YouTube | WeChat

Watch Forum videos at wef.ch/videos | YouTube
Get Forum podcasts at wef.ch/podcasts | YouTube
Subscribe to Forum news releases

All opinions expressed are those of the author. The World Economic Forum Blog is an independent and neutral platform dedicated to generating debate around the key topics that shape global, regional and industry agendas.

About us

Engage with us

Quick links

Language editions

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Sitemap

© 2026 World Economic Forum