Christine Lagarde wins second term as IMF chief

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Friday to appoint Christine Lagarde for a second five-year term as Managing Director for a second.

Lagarde, who was the only candidate, was backed by the UK, Germany, China, and her home country, France, to stay on for another five years.

In line with the selection process it had established on January 20, the Board held several discussions, including with Lagarde, the sole candidate nominated for the position, before making its decision today.

“In taking this decision, the Board praised Ms. Lagarde’s strong and wise leadership during her first term. During turbulent times in the global economy, Ms. Lagarde strengthened the Fund’s ability to support its members with policy advice, capacity building, and financing. She has also played a critical role in revitalizing the Fund’s relations with its global membership, including its emerging market and developing members.”  Aleksei Mozhin, Dean of the IMF Executive Board said.

“Looking ahead, the Board also welcomed Ms. Lagarde’s emphasis on ensuring that the Fund remains agile in all its operations; well positioned to provide integrated advice across the full spectrum of issues that impact macroeconomic stability; and focused on meeting the needs of its entire membership. The Board looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Managing Director in carrying out the institution’s goal of helping to ensure global economic and financial stability.”

Ms. Lagarde was first appointed Managing Director on July 5, 2011.  The selection process was initiated by the Board on January 20, 2016 when it adopted a merit-based and transparent process.

The Managing Director is the chief of the IMF’s operating staff and Chairman of the 24-member Executive Board. The Managing Director is assisted in carrying out her responsibilities by four Deputy Managing Directors and about 2,700 staff from 147 countries.

Before her appointment at the IMF in 2011, Lagarde, 60, a national of France, served as Minister of Finance and Minister for Foreign Trade of France and had an extensive and noteworthy career as an anti-trust and labor lawyer. She served as partner with the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie where she became Chairman of the Global Executive Committee in 1999, and subsequently Chairman of the Global Strategic Committee in 2004. She held the top post at the firm until June 2005 when she was named to her initial ministerial post in France. Lagarde has degrees from the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) and from the Law School of Paris X University, where she also lectured prior to joining Baker & McKenzie in 1981. When appointed in 2011, Lagarde became the first woman named to the top IMF post since the institution’s inception in 1944.