Christine Lagarde, chief of the European Central Bank, could become president of the World Economic Forum in 2027, Swiss newspaper NZZ reported. At a board meeting near Geneva, she was reportedly described as a "putative candidate" and said she was "ready to serve." The WEF, which organizes the annual Davos gathering, is navigating a leadership transition after founder Klaus Schwab stepped down last year. Its board is co-chaired by Roche vice-chairman André Hoffmann and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the succession to Fink and Hoffmann should be settled internally because suitable candidates were available. Lagarde, a board member for several terms, thanked the 28-member body for its confidence in her. The board did not decide when she would assume the presidency, with the only reported agreement being that Fink and Hoffmann should still chair the annual Davos meeting in January 2027. The WEF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Lagarde said last year that she was determined to complete her term at the ECB, which ends in October 2027, after speculation that she could leave early to lead the WEF.