Lagarde Eyed as Next WEF President Amid ECB Tenure Speculation
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), could become the next president of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2027. According to Swiss newspaper NZZ, discussions have taken place among WEF board members about her potential candidacy.
The report states that Lagarde was described as a 'putative candidate' to lead the organisation behind the annual Davos gathering. She reportedly indicated she was 'ready to serve' if selected for the position.
The timing of any change in the presidency has not yet been decided, but the WEF's board agreed that Roche Vice Chairman André Hoffmann and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink should continue to chair the annual WEF meeting in Davos in January 2027. Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam suggested that suitable candidates were available within the organisation.
Lagarde has served on the WEF board for several terms and thanked members of the 28-member body for their confidence in her. Her possible move to the WEF comes amid speculation over her future after her current position at the ECB, which is scheduled to end in October 2027.