Lagarde Emerges as Potential WEF Leader Amid 2027 Transition

Christine Lagarde, the head of the European Central Bank (ECB), has been identified as a potential candidate to lead the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2027. According to Swiss newspaper NZZ, Lagarde was described as a 'putative candidate' at a board meeting near Geneva this week.

Lagarde reportedly expressed her willingness to serve as president of the WEF, which is behind the annual Davos gathering of political and business leaders. The current co-chairs of the WEF's board are Roche vice-chairman André Hoffmann and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who are navigating a leadership transition after founder Klaus Schwab stepped down last year.

The WEF's board did not determine exactly when Lagarde should take over the presidency, but it was agreed that Fink and Hoffmann would still chair the annual meeting in Davos in January 2027. Lagarde has been a member of the WEF's board for several terms and thanked its members for their confidence in her.