Christine Lagarde Reportedly ‘Ready to Serve’ as Future WEF President

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde could take over leadership of the World Economic Forum sometime in 2027, according to a report from Swiss newspaper NZZ published Sunday.

Board Discussions Point to Lagarde as Leading Candidate

At a recent board meeting near Geneva, Lagarde was reportedly described as a strong potential candidate to head the organization behind the annual Davos gathering. Sources cited by NZZ said Lagarde herself stated she was “ready to serve” in the role. The WEF’s board is currently co-chaired by Roche vice-chairman André Hoffmann and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who have been managing the organization’s leadership transition since founder Klaus Schwab stepped down last year.

No Firm Timeline Set for Transition

According to the report, Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam suggested the succession process should be resolved internally, noting suitable candidates were already available. While Lagarde reportedly thanked the 28-member board for their confidence in her, no specific timeline was agreed upon for when she might assume the presidency. Sources indicated the only clear consensus was that Fink and Hoffmann would continue chairing the January 2027 Davos meeting.

Lagarde Previously Committed to Completing ECB Term

Lagarde has served on the WEF board for several terms. Last year, she stated she was determined to complete her term at the ECB, following earlier speculation that she might depart early to lead the WEF.