Christine Lagarde | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lagarde in 2020 | |
| President of the European Central Bank | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2019 | |
| Vice President | Luis de Guindos |
| Preceded by | Mario Draghi |
| Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund | |
| In office 5 July 2011 – 12 September 2019 | |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Dominique Strauss-Kahn |
| Succeeded by | Kristalina Georgieva |
| Minister of Economics, Finance and Industry | |
| In office 19 June 2007 – 29 June 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | François Fillon |
| Preceded by | Jean-Louis Borloo |
| Succeeded by | François Baroin |
| Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | |
| In office 18 May 2007 – 18 June 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | François Fillon |
| Preceded by | Dominique Bussereau |
| Succeeded by | Michel Barnier |
| Minister for Foreign Trade | |
| In office 2 June 2005 – 15 May 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | Dominique de Villepin |
| Preceded by | François Loos |
| Succeeded by | Hervé Novelli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Christine Madeleine Odette Lallouette 1 January 1956 9th arrondissement of Paris, France |
| Political party | Union for a Popular Movement (2007–2011) |
| Other political affiliations | European People's Party |
| Spouse |
Wilfried Lagarde
(m. 1982; div. 1992) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Paris Nanterre University Sciences Po Aix |
| Signature |  |
Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde (French: [kʁistin madlɛn ɔdɛt laɡaʁd]; née Lallouette, IPA: [lalwɛt]; born 1 January 1956) is a French politician and lawyer who has been the President of the European Central Bank since 2019. She previously served as the 11th Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2011 to 2019. Lagarde had also served in the Government of France, most prominently as Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry from 2007 until 2011. She is the first woman to hold each of those posts.[1]
Born and raised in Paris, Lagarde graduated from law school at Paris Nanterre University and obtained a Master's degree from Sciences Po Aix. After being admitted to the Paris Bar, she joined the international law firm Baker & McKenzie as an associate in 1981, specializing in labor and anti-trust, as well as mergers and acquisitions. Rising through the ranks, she was a member of the executive committee of the firm from 1995 until 1999, before being elevated to its Chair between 1999 and 2004; she was the first woman in both positions. She held the top post until she decided to go into public service.
Lagarde returned to France when appointed Minister of Foreign Trade from 2005 to 2007, then briefly served as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from May to June 2007, and finally, as minister of finance from 2007 to 2011, making her the first female to hold the finance portfolio of any Group of Eight economy. During her tenure, Lagarde oversaw the government response to the 2007–2008 financial crisis, for which the Financial Times ranked her the best finance minister in the Eurozone.[2]
On 5 July 2011, she was elected to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn as managing director of the IMF for a five-year term.[3][4][5] Her appointment was the 11th consecutive appointment of a European to head the IMF.[6] She was selected by consensus for a second five-year term, starting 5 July 2016, being the only candidate nominated for the post.[7] In December 2016, a French court convicted her of negligence relating to her role in the Bernard Tapie arbitration,[8] but did not impose a penalty. Lagarde resigned from the IMF following her nomination as president of the ECB.
In 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023, Forbes ranked her number two on its World's 100 Most Powerful Women list.[9][10][11]
- ^ Hope, Katie (12 July 2019). "Christine Lagarde: The 'rock star' of finance". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ From Ralph Atkins; Andrew Whiffin; FT reporters (16 October 2009). "FT ranking of EU finance ministers". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
appointment-IMFwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Lagarde wins IMF top job, presses Greece on crisis". Reuters. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ^ "Christine Lagarde named IMF chief". BBC News. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "IMF Managing Directors". IMF. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ "IMF's Lagarde re-elected to second term". Deutsche Welle. Reuters, AFP. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "IMF head convicted of criminal charges over massive government payout". The Independent. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ "The World's Most Powerful Women 2019". Forbes. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ "The World's 100 Most Powerful Women 2020". Forbes. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ BURHO", "MOIRA FORBES AND MAGGIE MCGRATH WITH NICOLETTE JONES AND ERIKA. "The World's Most Powerful Women 2023". Forbes.