Christine Lagarde

• Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
• Age: 58
• Residence: Washington, DC
• Country of Citizenship: France
• Education: Master of Arts, Institut d''etudes politiques d''Aix-en-Provence
• Marital Status: Single
• Children: 2

Profile

The first woman to run the 188-country financial organization has spent much of her first two years on the job battling the debt crisis in Europe and calling for ailing global economies to accelerate steps for stable growth. Her push for debt-sharing between EU nations and an increase in rescue funds has faced resistance from Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany. French-born Lagarde was a labor and antitrust attorney in the U.S. before a six-year stint as French finance minister; rumor has it she may make a run for the French presidency. Most recently, Lagarde issued a stark warning to the U.S., urging it to raise its congressionally-mandated debt ceiling.