Barbro Ehnbom and the Swedish Recruitment Pipeline

In 2001, a Swedish-American businesswoman named Barbro Ehnbom founded a professional women's network called Barbro's Best & Brightest. The stated mission was to "promote future women leaders in Swedish and international business." The network operated out of Stockholm and New York, backed by the Stockholm School of Economics, and supported by a roster of powerful male patrons Ehnbom called "Friends."

One of those Friends was Jeffrey Epstein.

Over the next sixteen years, Ehnbom would run what the documents suggest was a dual-purpose operation: a legitimate mentorship network that provided real career opportunities for over 150 Swedish women, and, at the same time, a recruitment pipeline that fed select young women to Epstein through photo-based vetting, coordinated gatherings, and direct personal introductions. She received at least $200,000 in documented payments from Epstein, hosted annual events at his Manhattan townhouse, and was never charged with a crime.

This investigation draws on dozens of EFTA documents released by the DOJ, cross-referenced with Ehnbom's own public statements and professional history.

Who Is Barbro Ehnbom?

Barbro C. Ehnbom is a Swedish-American businesswoman who has held positions across Wall Street, pharmaceutical marketing, and the life sciences investment world. According to her own website, she originally came to the United States after leaving doctoral studies in Sweden "to pursue her dreams of rock n' roll." She landed in New York City and built a career in finance and healthcare.

Her professional resume is extensive:

• 1970s: Product Manager at American Home Products (Anacin). Then market research at Richardson-Vick (Procter & Gamble), where she worked on cold product marketing during the period when DayQuil was developed.
• 1979-1981: Securities Analyst at L.F. Rothschild, where she was described as one of the top three selling analysts in America, covering the healthcare industry.
• 1982-1984: Director of Corporate Development at GlaxoSmithKline.
• 1985-1987: Partner at Argosy Capital, a boutique venture capital firm specializing in Swedish-American healthcare ventures.
• 1987: Founded Swedish Secrets, Inc., a skincare company that used Swedish models for promotion. The product was named Best New Product of the Year.
• 1993-present: President of DuHaan Groupe, Inc., an investment advisory firm focused on life sciences transactions.
• 2001-present: Founder and Executive Director of Barbro's Best & Brightest (BBB) and Chairman of the Swedish-American Life Science Summit (SALSS).

She has also taught Business Law and Ethics at the Stockholm School of Economics.

The 1980s Connection

To understand how Ehnbom and Epstein crossed paths, you need to look at 1980s Wall Street. Both operated in overlapping financial circles during the same years.

Epstein joined Bear Stearns in 1976, became a limited partner by 1980, and left under unclear circumstances by 1984. During this period he began managing money for wealthy clients, building the social infrastructure that would define his later career.

Ehnbom was working at L.F. Rothschild (1979-1981) and then GlaxoSmithKline (1982-1984), both in healthcare-focused finance roles. She was one of the top-rated analysts in the sector in New York.

The key connecting figure appears to be Bob Goldsamt, a Wall Street figure involved in the for-profit hospital industry. In a May 2009 email (EFTA00881444), Epstein recalls a 26-year-old memory to Eva Andersson-Dubin:

"26 years [ago]...you came to the house on banyan, for the first time... Bobby goldsamt had recommended the italian restaurant on 83 and lex, it travatore"

This places Goldsamt in Epstein's social circle as early as 1983. Goldsamt was an early creator of the for-profit hospital model, exactly the sector where Ehnbom was one of the top-rated analysts in the country.

The other critical link is Eva Andersson-Dubin herself. Andersson was the 1980 Miss Sweden contestant, a model for Ford Models, and was completing her medical residency at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York during the same period. Two highly educated Swedish women in the New York healthcare and beauty industries during the early 1980s would have moved in very similar circles.

Later EFTA documents confirm that Ehnbom and Andersson-Dubin knew each other well. In a December 2011 email (EFTA02364357), Ehnbom introduces a BBB member named Stephanie Treschkow to Eva Dubin. In an August 2012 email (EFTA00712934), Eva Dubin invites Epstein to bring "the girls" to an event promoting her breast care clinic.

The tone of these exchanges makes it clear that Ehnbom, Andersson-Dubin, and Epstein were all part of a long-standing social network that stretched back decades.

Barbro's Best & Brightest: The Dual-Purpose Network

BBB was founded in 2001 with the same year Ehnbom launched the "Female Economist of the Year" scholarship. On her website, Ehnbom describes the origin:

"The early funding for this came from a network of Barbro's Friends, consisting of prominent Swedish and American business leaders, who would serve both as role models and contacts in industry for the Female Economist."

In 2002, the Stockholm School of Economics officially named Epstein as a "Best Male Supporter" of the BBB program. The school ended its collaboration with Ehnbom in 2015 after learning of the Epstein connection.

Ehnbom's own description of BBB states that members enjoy "unique access to the so-called Friends, who consists of an extensive list of global contacts which Barbro has acquired throughout her long career." She describes herself as "a role model, mentor, and promoter, aided by 20 important Best Male Supporters and 50 Female Role Models."

On the surface, the network appears to have been genuinely useful for many participants. There is evidence that BBB provided real educational opportunities, professional networking, and career advancement for dozens of young Swedish women.

But the EFTA documents tell a parallel story.

The Photo Pipeline

What the emails reveal is a pattern of photo-based vetting that has nothing to do with professional development.

Ehnbom sent at least 10 emails with photo attachments to Epstein between 2012 and 2017, offering BBB members for his review. Some examples:

• EFTA00714512: A photo of a woman named Sana, described as being "in lace."
• EFTA02584905: A photo labeled "BBB Ann Du."
• EFTA02517560: "Latest new Swedish girl in BBB...here."
• EFTA02474845: A cell phone number and photo of a woman named Jennifer Lonnroth, with the note: "latest BBB girl I sen you info and photo for."

If these women were being introduced for professional purposes, you would expect a resume, a LinkedIn profile, some indication of their qualifications. Instead, Epstein received photos. After receiving them, he sometimes requested Skype names. Conversations would escalate to requests for "full body shots" and passport copies.

Marcus Forss, Ehnbom's son, participated in this process. He vetted women, distinguishing between a "gorgeous date" and a "real person," and was explicitly asked by Epstein to "find a real person" for recruitment (EFTA00977733).

"Who Is Your Wife Choice This Year?"

One email exchange captures the dynamic with particular clarity.

On August 20, 2012 (EFTA02007282), Epstein asked Ehnbom: "Who is your wife choice this year?"

Ehnbom responded: "How about this year's SALSS Project Manager? Brainy and sensual! Picture attached!"

The woman was 24 years old. In a related email (EFTA01890618), Ehnbom described her as "super smart super hard working MBA who wins all awards....24....Best&Brightest you maybe should meet."

This was not a one-time exchange. Epstein asked about a "wife" on more than one occasion, and Ehnbom responded each time by offering a specific young woman, usually accompanied by a photo and a description that mixed professional credentials with physical or sexual characteristics.

For a full collection of relevant documents, see the Barbro Ehnbom investigation page.

Case Study: Julia D.

The recruitment of a woman identified as Julia D. illustrates the full pipeline.

March 8, 2013: Marcus Forss emails his mother Barbro with the subject line "JE girl?" He has identified Julia, a psychology student in Stockholm.

March 16, 2013 (EFTA02567144): Ehnbom emails Epstein:

"Could this be your next assistant after Sara? Julia is a Swedish psychology student Marcus met in Stockholm and thought of when I mentioned your search for a new administrator of your traveling..."

March 17, 2013: Epstein's response is two words: "skype with her."

He does not ask for a resume. He does not ask about her qualifications. He wants a video call.

Julia responds (EFTA01899023) with a personal narrative. She describes herself as a 28-year-old psychology student who previously worked as a fashion model. She mentions her love of travel, Disney World, existential philosophy. She writes in charmingly imperfect English: "teams park" instead of "theme parks." She signs off: "Sweet wishes from Julia."

This is not a resume. But it appears to be exactly what Epstein wanted.

June 25, 2013 (EFTA00963750): Ehnbom forwards Julia's contact information to Epstein with the subject line "JEFFREY AND...JULIA!" Two photos are attached.

September 30, 2013: Lesley Groff, Epstein's assistant, writes that Ehnbom "has a young lady, Julia, in Stockholm, who she thinks you should interview... Barbro says she would be a perfect candidate for the job."

October 7, 2013: Groff is still trying to schedule a Skype call and obtain Julia's CV. Seven months after the initial contact, no one has asked for professional credentials.

After October 2013, Julia D. disappears from the EFTA record entirely. What happened to her is unknown.

The Sofia Hellqvist Connection

Perhaps the most striking name to appear in the Ehnbom correspondence is Sofia Hellqvist, who married Prince Carl Philip of Sweden in June 2015 and became Princess Sofia, Duchess of Varmland.

In an April 2006 email, Groff asks Ehnbom about "Sofia the little beautiful dark haired girl who had her friend Camilla with her." The email notes that Epstein "offered them both to go to film school" and that "they run into problems with their visa and called him."

By 2010, Ehnbom was updating Epstein on Sofia's personal life. In a February 7, 2010 email (EFTA00775965):

"Here is a photo of our Sofia, you remember, i.e. soon Princess Sofia... the whole Swedish press is looking for her... while she is in Africa!"

In August 2012, Ehnbom wrote to Epstein: "Also, Sofia and the prince is on every magazine here, I think it is wonderful."

An official case file document (EFTA00065862) states that Ehnbom "introduced a soft porn star to Swedish Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Varmland Crown Prince, whom he married." This characterization appears to refer to Sofia's earlier career as a glamour model. She had appeared in the Swedish men's magazine Slitz in 2004 and on the reality show Paradise Hotel in 2005, before she became associated with the royal family.

To be clear: Sofia Hellqvist appears in these documents as a young woman building a career, not as a willing participant in any recruitment scheme. Whether she was targeted by the pipeline or simply known to Ehnbom through Swedish social circles, the available evidence does not resolve. But the fact that Ehnbom kept Epstein personally updated on Sofia's relationship with the Crown Prince raises serious questions about the nature of their connection.

The Money

Documented payments from Epstein to Ehnbom's BBB program between 2010 and 2017 total at least $205,000:

The "once again" language in the July 2017 wire request (EFTA00459520) confirms this was a recurring annual pattern. The August 2017 panic over a wire delay (EFTA02218359) reveals that BBB gatherings were operationally dependent on Epstein's payment timing.

In a separate August 2012 email (EFTA02558603), Ehnbom solicited $1,000,000 from Epstein, writing: "JEFF, YOU ARE FANTASTIC TO STICK WITH IT AND THANKS TO YOU WE HAVE MADE BIG DIFFERENCE IN MANY OF THESE GIRLS' LIVES... we have 150 rather fantastic young women thanks to you." There is no confirmation in the available record that this amount was actually paid.

All payments were routed through the Stockholm School of Economics with a memo line reading "Barbro's Fund." Richard Kahn, Epstein's accountant, processed the transactions. Lesley Groff coordinated the logistics.

The Gatherings

At least 20 BBB-related gatherings are documented in the EFTA files between 2010 and 2017. They followed a consistent pattern:

• Ehnbom requests payment from Epstein
• Payment is processed through Kahn and Groff
• A BBB event is scheduled, often at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse
• Ehnbom provides a list of attendees and their biographical information
• After the event, Epstein connects with select women on LinkedIn

The largest documented gathering took place on March 15, 2012, when ten named Swedish women attended an event at Epstein's house at 7pm: Anna Aggeryd, Carole Ginnman, Caroline Ekman, Caroline Grane, Carolina Pihl, Anna Joelsson, Sara Khan, Tatjana Kostic, Lisa Karlborg, and Karin Karlsson.

On September 12, 2013 (EFTA02128517), Groff reminded the office: "need Barbro's list of girls and bios for BBB Gathering on 22nd."

A Swedish media outlet reported that women who attended BBB gatherings at Epstein's house described feeling "uncomfortable" and said they were told the dress code was "bare legs."

The SALSS Network

Ehnbom also founded and chairs the Swedish-American Life Science Summit, a high-profile conference that has drawn an extraordinary roster of attendees over the years. Speakers and guests have included Nobel Laureates, U.S. members of Congress, Fortune 500 executives, Swedish government ministers, and members of the Swedish royal family, including Prince Daniel and King Carl XVI Gustaf.

This network of elite contacts provided institutional credibility for Ehnbom's operations. It also gave both Ehnbom and Epstein leverage: the same women who entered through BBB's mentorship track could find themselves at SALSS events alongside Nobel Prize winners one week and at Epstein's townhouse the next.

Why No Prosecution?

Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her role in recruiting and grooming young women for Epstein. The documented evidence against Ehnbom follows a strikingly similar pattern: systematic recruitment, photo-based selection, financial compensation, and operational coordination with Epstein's staff.

Yet Ehnbom has never been charged with a crime.

Several factors may explain this:

Jurisdictional complexity. Ehnbom operates across Swedish and American legal systems, and the recruitment involved young women crossing international borders. Swedish authorities stated they had "no reason to believe she committed any crimes."

The dual-purpose cover. Unlike Maxwell, whose social activities had no independent institutional purpose, Ehnbom created a network with genuine professional benefits for the majority of its members. This makes it harder to prosecute the whole operation when most participants had a positive experience.

Diplomatic sensitivity. The connection to Princess Sofia and the broader Swedish royal family may have created political complications that neither Swedish nor American prosecutors wanted to navigate.

Statute of limitations. Most BBB activities occurred between 2010 and 2017. By the time the DOJ investigation accelerated in 2019, some activities may have fallen outside prosecution windows.

What We Still Do Not Know

Several questions remain unanswered:

What happened to the ten named women from the March 15, 2012 gathering? None have spoken publicly. What happened to Julia D. after October 2013? Did she travel to New York? Did she get the job? Where did the $200,000+ actually go? No Swedish bank records for BBB AB have surfaced. What did Swedish authorities find when they investigated? DOJ MLAT requests were made in 2020, but no results have been shared publicly.

Conclusion

The Barbro Ehnbom case represents one of the most documented but least prosecuted recruitment operations in the Epstein files. The emails are clear. The payments are documented. The pattern of photo-based selection, "wife choice" requests, and coordinated gatherings at Epstein's homes is established across dozens of EFTA documents.

The difference between Ehnbom and Maxwell is not the evidence. It is the outcome.

This article was produced in collaboration with Epstein Exposed community researchers. If you have information about BBB, SALSS, or any of the individuals named in this article, please contact us through our secure tip line.