Key facts
- Christine Lagarde, chief of the European Central Bank, is reportedly a candidate to become the next president of the World Economic Forum.
- The WEF board discussed Lagarde as a "putative candidate" at a recent meeting.
- Lagarde indicated she is "ready to serve" in the potential role.
- The WEF board did not determine a specific timeline for Lagarde's succession.
- Lagarde's current term as ECB president concludes in October 2027.
ZURICH, Aug 23 (Reuters) - European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is being considered for the presidency of the World Economic Forum (WEF), potentially taking over in 2027, according to a report by Swiss newspaper NZZ. At a recent board meeting, Lagarde was reportedly described as a "putative candidate" and indicated she was "ready to serve."
The WEF board, which is currently navigating a leadership transition after founder Klaus Schwab stepped down, did not set a definitive timeline for Lagarde's potential succession. However, board co-chairs André Hoffmann and Larry Fink are expected to lead the January 2027 Davos meeting.
Lagarde, who has served on the WEF board for several terms, thanked members for their confidence. Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, also a board member, suggested that suitable internal candidates were available to resolve the succession. Lagarde had previously stated her intention to complete her eight-year term at the ECB, which concludes in October 2027.
The WEF had no immediate comment on the report.