WEF Could Appoint Christine Lagarde as Chair as Early as November, Sources Say

The World Economic Forum (WEF) could appoint European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde as its next chair as early as November, potentially prompting her to leave the central bank before her term expires in October 2027, according to four people familiar with the discussions.

The appointment would trigger a wider succession process at the ECB, giving European Union leaders an opportunity to select a new president before France’s spring presidential election. The political contest is expected to influence discussions over key European appointments, with opinion polls suggesting the far-right could make significant gains.

The WEF’s Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet on November 2. Four sources said the board could elect Lagarde during the meeting, although no final decision has been made. Two of them said an alternative would be to set a date for a later vote, allowing her to be presented as the designated chair at the WEF’s annual meeting in Davos in January.

Lagarde, 70, is a former French finance minister and has reportedly secured broad support among the board’s 27 members. However, sources cautioned that her appointment was not guaranteed.

An early departure would allow sufficient time for the formal EU appointment process to conclude before French President Emmanuel Macron’s term ends in May. One source said Lagarde’s wish to give Macron a role in choosing her successor was among the factors shaping the potential timetable.

European political circles are concerned that negotiations over the ECB leadership could become more complicated if far-right leader Marine Le Pen wins the French presidency.

The Geneva-based WEF is currently co-chaired by BlackRock Chief Executive Larry Fink and Roche Vice Chairman Andre Hoffmann. They assumed the roles after founder Klaus Schwab stepped down last year.

Its board includes senior figures from business and public institutions, among them International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Jordan’s Queen Rania, Salesforce Chief Executive Marc Benioff and Siemens’ Jim Hagemann Snabe.

An early appointment would place Lagarde at the centre of a leadership transition spanning both the WEF and Europe’s central banking system.