Lagarde Eyed for WEF Presidency Amid Speculation Over Her Future

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde is being considered for the position of World Economic Forum (WEF) president, according to a Swiss newspaper report. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung reported that Lagarde was referred to as a 'putative candidate' during a board meeting near Geneva earlier this week.

Lagarde has been on the WEF's Board of Trustees and thanked fellow board members for their confidence in her, stating she is 'ready to serve'. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, president of Singapore, led the succession discussion and emphasized that the issue should be resolved internally.

The WEF is currently co-chaired by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and André Hoffmann, vice chairman of Roche. The board has not yet decided on a timeline for Lagarde to take over as president, but Fink and Hoffmann are expected to preside over the annual Davos meeting in January.

Lagarde's term at the ECB is set to end in October 2027, when she will have served eight years. Her future has been subject to speculation in recent months, with some speculating that she may leave her role earlier.