July 6 - Letters shared with board members outline a proposal for World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab to return to the organisation in an advisory role that would provide him with a formal channel to influence who runs the forum in the future.
For decades Schwab was the public face of the WEF's annual Davos meeting - the gathering of business and political leaders in the Swiss mountain resort - and his name was closely associated with the institution. He stepped down from his position in April last year after a whistleblower sent a letter alleging misconduct. Following an internal inquiry, the WEF closed its investigation in August 2025 and cleared him of wrongdoing.
The advisory arrangement described in the letters would give Schwab a structured role focused on leadership appointments, according to the material circulated to board members. The proposal comes while the forum's board is being led on an interim basis by two senior figures: BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink and Andre Hoffmann, vice-chair of Roche Holding.
A representative for Schwab declined to comment on the matters detailed in the letters. The World Economic Forum did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The correspondence to trustees lays out a path for the founder to retain a degree of influence over governance without resuming an executive position. The specifics contained in those letters frame the advisory position as a way to connect Schwab to future leadership decisions, rather than restore him to the operational leadership role he held historically.
This development follows a period in which the forum confronted an allegation serious enough to prompt Schwab's resignation and a subsequent investigation. While the inquiry ultimately cleared him, the sequence of events - allegation, resignation, review, clearance - is central to how the proposed advisory return is being presented to the forum's board.
At present, Schwab's possible return in an advisory capacity remains at the stage described in the letters shared with board members. The interim co-chairs retain their roles while the board considers governance arrangements and the potential implications of the proposed advisory position.
Key takeaways
- Letters to board members propose an advisory role for Klaus Schwab that would involve input on future leadership appointments.
- Schwab resigned in April last year after a whistleblower alleged misconduct and was cleared when the WEF closed its investigation in August 2025.
- Interim leadership of the forum is held by Larry Fink (BlackRock) and Andre Hoffmann (Roche Holding) while governance arrangements are considered.