April 3 (Reuters) - The World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab, will "start the process" of stepping down as chair of its board of trustees, a spokesperson for the Geneva-based institution told Reuters on Thursday.

Schwab said the forum, which convenes annual gatherings in the Swiss resort of Davos, must recover its "sense of mission" after a period of turmoil, the Financial Times first reported, citing a letter to trustee board members and confirmation by two people with knowledge of the situation.