Christine Lagarde could take over the leadership of the World Economic Forum in November, which would accelerate her departure from the ECB (Reuters)

Christine Lagarde could be appointed president of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as early as November, according to sources cited by Reuters. The decision could lead to her early departure as head of the European Central Bank (ECB), where her term officially ends in October 2027.

The WEF board of trustees, which includes Lagarde, will meet on November 2 and could decide the organization’s future president then. The appointment could be officially announced at the annual meeting in Davos. The sources said Lagarde has the support of board members, but the final decision has not been made. The WEF and the ECB declined to comment on the information.

An early departure would allow European Union leaders to choose a new ECB president before France’s presidential election, scheduled for next spring. According to the sources, Lagarde would like to give President Emmanuel Macron a role in selecting her successor.

The ECB is already facing other changes. Isabel Schnabel will leave the Executive Board in January 2027 to join the IMF, while chief economist Philip Lane is due to retire in May. Among the favorites to lead the ECB are Klaas Knot and Pablo Hernández de Cos, while France and Germany are seeking other key positions.