Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde is a French politician and lawyer who has been serving as President of the European Central Bank since 2019. She previously served as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund 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 to 2011. She was the first woman to hold each of those posts. 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 multinational law firm Baker & McKenzie as an associate in 1981, specialising in labour, 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 as 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.
