By Peter OBIORA InvestAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-The executive board of the global lender, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday announced it has selected Christine Lagarde to serve as the Fund’s managing director (MD) for a second five-year term starting on July 5, 2016.

“The Board’s decision was taken by consensus,” the IMF said in a statement.

The IMF says in line with the selection process it had established on January 20, the board held several discussions, including with Lagarde, the sole candidate nominated for the position, before making its decision today.

Aleksei Mozhin, the Dean of the IMF’s executive board said: “In taking this decision, the board praised Lagarde’s strong and wise leadership during her first term. During turbulent times in the global economy, Lagarde strengthened the Fund’s ability to support its members with policy advice, capacity building, and financing. She has also played a critical role in revitalizing the Fund’s relations with its global membership, including its emerging market and developing members.

“Looking ahead, the board also welcomed Lagarde’s emphasis on ensuring that the Fund remains agile in all its operations; well positioned to provide integrated advice across the full spectrum of issues that impact macroeconomic stability; and focused on meeting the needs of its entire membership. The board looks forward to continuing to work closely with the managing director in carrying out the institution’s goal of helping to ensure global economic and financial stability.”

Lagarde was first appointed managing director on July 5, 2011 and before her appointment Lagarde, 60, a national of France,  served as minister of finance and minister for foreign trade of France and had an extensive and noteworthy career as an anti-trust and labour lawyer.

She served as partner with the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie where she became chairman of the Global Executive Committee in 1999, and subsequently chairman of the Global Strategic Committee in 2004. She held the top post at the firm until June 2005 when she was named to her initial ministerial post in France.

Lagarde has degrees from the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) and from the Law School of Paris X University, where she also lectured prior to joining Baker & McKenzie in 1981. When appointed in 2011, she became the first woman named to the top IMF post since the institution’s inception in 1944.

This is coming on the heels of the IMF’s Spring meeting to be held in Washington D.C April 15 to 17, 2016.

Click here to view Factsheet on the Managing Director Selection Process

Click here to view Ms. Lagarde’s biography