Børge Brende
Børge Brende | |
|---|---|
Brende in 2023 | |
| President and CEO of the World Economic Forum | |
| In office 23 October 2017 – 26 February 2026 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 16 October 2013 – 20 October 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Erna Solberg |
| Preceded by | Espen Barth Eide |
| Succeeded by | Ine Eriksen Søreide |
| Minister of Trade and Industry | |
| In office 18 June 2004 – 17 October 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Kjell Magne Bondevik |
| Preceded by | Ansgar Gabrielsen |
| Succeeded by | Odd Eriksen |
| Minister of the Environment | |
| In office 19 October 2001 – 18 June 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Kjell Magne Bondevik |
| Preceded by | Siri Bjerke |
| Succeeded by | Knut Arild Hareide |
| Member of the Norwegian Parliament | |
| In office 1 October 1997 – 30 September 2009 | |
| Deputy | Linda Hofstad Helleland (2001–2005) |
| Constituency | Sør-Trøndelag |
| First Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party | |
| In office 10 April 1994 – 29 March 1998 | |
| Leader | Jan Petersen |
| Preceded by | John G. Bernander |
| Succeeded by | Inge Lønning |
| Leader of the Young Conservatives | |
| In office 26 June 1988 – 24 June 1990 | |
| Deputy | Elisabeth Aspaker Jan Tore Sanner |
| Preceded by | Trond Helleland |
| Succeeded by | Jan Tore Sanner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 September 1965 Odda Municipality, Hordaland, Norway |
| Party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Torild M. Brende |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Norwegian University of Science and Technology |
Børge Brende (born 25 September 1965) is a Norwegian politician and diplomat, and he was the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum from 2017 to 2026. A member of the Conservative Party, he previously was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2017, Minister of the Environment from 2001 to 2004 and Minister of Trade and Industry from 2004 to 2005. He was also a member of the Norwegian Parliament from Sør-Trøndelag between 1997 and 2009. The Epstein Files revealed that Brende had communicated with and met Jeffrey Epstein numerous times, despite stating he had not done so previously. He also denied having knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's criminal record. Brende resigned as CEO of WEF on 26 February 2026 in light of the Epstein Files controversy.,