Swiss daily Neue Zurcher Zeitung reported on Sunday that Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), could assume the presidency of the World Economic Forum (WEF) sometime in 2027. The suggestion emerged during a recent board meeting held near Geneva, where Lagarde was described as a “putative candidate” and reportedly said she was “ready to serve.”

Board context and leadership transition

The WEF’s board is currently co‑chaired by Roche vice‑chairman André Hoffmann and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. Both are overseeing a leadership transition after founder Klaus Schwab stepped down last year. At the same meeting, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the succession for the co‑chairs should be handled internally, noting that suitable candidates are already available.

Lagarde’s involvement with the WEF

Lagarde has served on the WEF’s board for several terms. According to the newspaper, she thanked the 28‑member board for its confidence in her potential new role. The board did not set a specific date for her to take over the presidency, but all parties agreed that Hoffmann and Fink would continue to chair the annual Davos meeting in January 2027.

Implications for the ECB

Lagarde previously affirmed her commitment to completing her ECB term, which ends in October 2027, after speculation that she might leave early for the WEF. The ECB has not commented on the report, and the WEF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Should Lagarde assume the WEF presidency, she would join a body that convenes political and business leaders each year in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss global economic issues.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.