Birth
Lagarde was born in Paris, France.
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History of Christine Lagarde
Sunday Jan 1, 1956 to Present
France
Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde is a French politician, businessperson, and lawyer serving as President of the European Central Bank since 1 November 2019. Between July 2011 and September 2019, she served as Chair and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Graduated
She graduated from Paris West University Nanterre La Défense, where she obtained master's degrees in English, labor law, and social law.
Joined Baker & McKenzie
Lagarde joined Baker & McKenzie, a large Chicago-based international law firm, in 1981. She handled major antitrust and labor cases, was made partner after six years and was named head of the firm in Western Europe.
The Company's first female chairman
She joined the Executive Committee in 1995 and was elected the company's first female chairman in October 1999.
A President of the Global Strategic Committee
In 2004, Lagarde became President of the Global Strategic Committee.
France's Trade Minister
As France's Trade Minister between 2005 and May 2007, Lagarde prioritized opening new markets for the country's products, focusing on the technology sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture
On 18 May 2007, she was moved to the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the government of François Fillon.
The Finance Minister of France
In 2010 Lagarde, then Finance Minister of France, sent a list of 1,991 names of Greek customers who were potential tax avoiders with bank accounts at HSBC's Geneva branch to the Greek government.
The PBS NewsHour interview
In July 2010, Lagarde told the PBS NewsHour that the IMF's lending program for distressed European countries was "a very massive plan, totally unexpected, totally counter-treaty, because it wasn't scheduled in the treaty that we should do a bailout program, as we did." She also said, "we had essentially a trillion dollars on the table to confront any market attack that would target any country, whether it's Greece, Spain, Portugal, or anybody within the eurozone."
Announced her candidacy to be head of the IMF
On 25 May 2011, Lagarde announced her candidacy to be head of the IMF to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn, upon his resignation.
A Manager Director
On 28 June 2011, the IMF board elected Lagarde as its next Managing Director and Chairman for a five-year term, starting on 5 July 2011.
Investigation into Lagarde's role in a €403 million arbitration deal
On 3 August 2011, a French court ordered an investigation into Lagarde's role in a €403 million arbitration deal in favor of businessman Bernard Tapie.
Hot Doc's List
On 28 October 2012, Greek reporter and editor Kostas Vaxevanis claimed to be in possession of the list and published a document with more than 2,000 names in his magazine Hot Doc.
Lagarde's apartment in Paris was raided by French Police
On 20 March 2013, Lagarde's apartment in Paris was raided by French police as part of the investigation.
Assisted Witness
On 24 May 2013, after two days of questioning at the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), Lagarde was assigned the status of "assisted witness", meaning that she was not herself under investigation in the affair.
CJR ordered Lagarde to stand trial before it for alleged negligence
On 17 December 2015, the CJR (Court of Justice of the Republic) ordered Lagarde to stand trial before it for alleged negligence in handling the Tapie arbitration approval.
The Court found Lagarde guilty of negligence
In December 2016, the court found Lagarde guilty of negligence, but declined to impose a penalty.
Lagarde was nominated by the European Council to succeed Mario Draghi as President of the European Central Bank
On 2 July 2019, Lagarde was nominated by the European Council to succeed Mario Draghi as President of the European Central Bank (ECB).
European Parliament voted via secret ballot to recommend her to the position
On 17 September 2019, the European Parliament voted via secret ballot to recommend her to the position, with 394 in favor, 206 opposed, and 49 abstentions. Confirmed by the European Council in its October summit, Lagarde became the first woman to serve as ECB President.