Christine Lagarde. Photo: Reuters
According to Reuters, citing the NZZ, Lagarde’s candidacy was discussed at a meeting of the WEF’s 28-member board. According to the newspaper, Lagarde was named as a potential candidate to lead the organization and thanked the board members for their trust.
NZZ sources claim that Lagarde expressed her willingness to take on the role. However, the WEF board has not yet made a final decision on the timing of her potential appointment.
Lagarde has served on the WEF board for several terms. The organization is currently led by co-chairs—Roche Vice Chairman André Hoffmann and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. Their leadership coincides with a period of restructuring at the WEF following the departure of the forum’s founder, Klaus Schwab.
According to the NZZ, the only agreement regarding the immediate future is that Fink and Hoffmann are to host the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos in January 2027. It has not yet been determined exactly when a leadership transition might take place after that.
Lagarde’s term at the ECB ends in 2027
Lagarde’s potential move to the WEF coincides with the end of her eight-year term as head of the European Central Bank. Her term expires at the end of October 2027.
There have been previous speculations that Lagarde might leave the ECB before the end of her term to lead the WEF. Additionally, some analysts have not ruled out the possibility that she might enter the 2027 presidential race in France, as reported by Logos Press.
However, Christine Lagarde stated last year that she intended to complete her term at the ECB.
If appointed, Lagarde would take the helm of an organization that annually brings together leading politicians, business representatives, and international institutions in Davos. For the WEF, her move would mean maintaining close ties to global financial and economic policy following a leadership transition.
