World Economic Forum CEO and President Borge Brende said he was resigning Thursday, after an investigation was conducted into his ties to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister who became WEF president in 2017, announced his decision in a statement following the Justice Department's release of Epstein files that showed he had three business dinners with the disgraced financier and had also communicated with him via email and text, Reuters reported.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8-1/2 years, has been profoundly rewarding," Brende said in a statement, without mentioning Epstein.

"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," he added.

Brende previously said he was unaware of Epstein's past and criminal activities before meeting him for the first time in 2018, and that he regretted not having investigated him more thoroughly.

WEF co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink said in a statement that the independent review conducted by outside counsel into Brende's ties with Epstein had concluded. The review's findings stated there were no additional concerns beyond what was already disclosed, according to Hoffmann and Fink.

The co-chairs said the WEF's Alois Zwinggi will be the interim president and CEO, and that the forum's Board of Trustees will oversee the leadership transition, including a plan to find a permanent successor.