Christine Lagarde to Step Down as European Central Bank President

The European Central Bank announced on Thursday morning that Christine Lagarde will step down as its president on 7 February 2027, according to a Guardian report by Graeme Wearden, which described the departure as "nine months early."

ABC News reported in a wire story that Lagarde has announced her resignation, effective February 7, nine months ahead of schedule.

According to The New York Times, reporting by Eshe Nelson, the departure comes months before the end of an eight-year term and sets in motion a selection process among European leaders for a new central bank president.

The Guardian also reported that Lagarde is seen as a candidate to take over the World Economic Forum. Its report said the announcement comes as the eurozone struggles with weak growth and inflation.

The New York Times, The Guardian and ABC News, in the summaries available for this story, do not name a successor to Lagarde. The summaries also do not set out a timetable for choosing one, beyond the selection process among European leaders that The New York Times described.

The Guardian's account places the announcement on Thursday morning, the same day the bank made its decision public. ABC News's account gives the effective date of the resignation as February 7, the same date the Guardian gave for her departure as president.

Sources: The New York Times: Christine Lagarde to Step Down as Chief of European Central Bank; The Guardian: Europe’s central bank chief Christine Lagarde to step down nine months early; ABC News: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will resign Feb. 7, nine months early.