Lagarde Eyes WEF Presidency Amid Leadership Transition

Christine Lagarde, head of the European Central Bank, is being considered for the presidency of the World Economic Forum (WEF), according to a Swiss newspaper report. The WEF's board is in transition after founder Klaus Schwab stepped down last year, and Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has said that suitable candidates are available.

Lagarde was described as a 'putative candidate' at a recent board meeting near Geneva, where she also expressed her willingness to take on the role. The board did not determine exactly when Lagarde should take over the presidency, but agreed that BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Roche vice-chairman André Hoffmann should still chair the annual meeting in Davos in January 2027.

Lagarde has been a member of the WEF's board for several terms and has expressed her gratitude to its members for their confidence in her. However, she has also stated that she is determined to complete her term at the ECB, which runs out at the end of October 2027.