Finance
ECB's Lagarde replaces Fed's Powell on two key BIS committees
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 12, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Summary
ECB's Christine Lagarde replaces Jerome Powell on two key BIS committees, marking a significant leadership change at the central bankers' central bank.
ECB's Lagarde replaces Fed's Powell on two key BIS committees
Leadership Changes at the Bank for International Settlements
LONDON (Reuters) -European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is to take over from Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell as head of two of the Bank for International Settlements' key economic groups, the central bank umbrella body said on Wednesday.
Overview of BIS Committees
Powell has been chair of the BIS's Global Economy Meeting (GEM) which involves 30 top central bankers and its Economic Consultative Committee (ECC) since 2019 when he took over from then-governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney.
Impact of Lagarde's Appointment
He will now hand the baton over to ECB counterpart Lagarde when his term as Fed chair runs out in May next year.
Background on Christine Lagarde
Lagarde's appointment also means the Basel-based institution, often dubbed the central bankers' central bank, is heavily dominated by current or former ECB policymakers.
Spain's former central bank governor Pablo Hernandez de Cos replaced Mexico's Agustin Carstens as the BIS's General Manager in July, while its 'All Governors' Meetings' held with the BIS's 63-member central banks, are chaired by current Bank of France governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau.
The BIS did not say how long Lagarde's stint as chair of its committees will run for. Her term as ECB President runs until the end of October 2027.
The ECB chief is a lawyer by training. Last year she drew attention for describing economists as a "tribal clique" and for saying they were sometimes too insular in their views.
(Reporting by Marc Jones in London and Balazs Koranyi in Frankfurt, editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Key Takeaways
- •Christine Lagarde replaces Jerome Powell on BIS committees.
- •Lagarde's appointment marks a leadership shift at BIS.
- •BIS committees are crucial for global economic discussions.
- •Lagarde's term as ECB President lasts until October 2027.
- •The BIS is known as the central bankers' central bank.
Frequently Asked Questions about ECB's Lagarde replaces Fed's Powell on two key BIS committees
1What is the Bank for International Settlements?
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an international financial institution owned by central banks, which fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks.
2What is the role of a central bank?
A central bank is a national institution that manages a country's currency, money supply, and interest rates, and oversees the banking system to ensure financial stability.
3What is the Economic Consultative Committee?
The Economic Consultative Committee (ECC) is a key group within the BIS that provides a platform for central banks to discuss economic and financial issues.
4What is the Global Economy Meeting?
The Global Economy Meeting (GEM) is a gathering of central bank governors and other high-level officials to discuss global economic trends and policies.
5What is the European Central Bank?
The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank for the euro and is responsible for monetary policy within the Eurozone, aiming to maintain price stability.
