Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, has been announced as the recipient of the prestigious Sutherland Leadership Award.

Madame Lagarde will travel to Dublin to receive this special recognition at a Gala Dinner on Wednesday, April 2nd, at O’Reilly Hall, University College Dublin, in the company of over 600 international business, political, and social leaders. The gala dinner forms part of the Business & Finance Awards Programme, in association with KPMG.

The Sutherland Leadership Award was established in 2018 with the support of the Sutherland Family to recognise outstanding international leaders who have embodied the values of one of Ireland’s and Europe’s finest leaders, Peter Sutherland. Since its inception, the Sutherland Leadership Award has recognised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Henry (Hank) Paulson, former US Secretary of the Treasury; José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission; Mario Draghi, former President of the European Central Bank and Prime Minister of Italy; Louise Richardson, former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York; Sir Nick Clegg, Former Deputy Prime Minister UK and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

Christine Lagarde will travel to Dublin this April to accept the Sutherland Leadership Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership across European and global financial policy, and economic stability, in a career spanning decades, including her tenure as President of the ECB since 2019 and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (2011-2019).

Christine Lagarde said of the announcement, “It is an honour to receive the Sutherland Leadership Award. Peter Sutherland dedicated his life to driving positive change at the national, European, and global levels. His commitment to European integration and global cooperation sets a powerful example for leaders today as we navigate an especially challenging environment for policymaking.”

Throughout her distinguished career, Lagarde has continuously broken barriers. She is the first woman to have served in a number of pivotal roles, including French Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (2007–2011), Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF; 2011–2019), and President of the European Central Bank (2019–present). Her leadership has been instrumental in navigating Europe through significant financial and economic challenges, earning her global recognition as one of the most influential leaders of our time.

Lagarde’s tenure at the IMF saw her tackle some of the most complex global economic issues, where she was a vocal advocate for pragmatic debt relief solutions. As President of the European Central Bank, she has championed policies fostering economic stability, innovation, and cooperation amidst an increasingly volatile global landscape.

Christine Lagarde

Announcing her special recognition with the Sutherland Leadership Award, Ian Hyland, President Business & Finance, said: “Christine Lagarde has redefined leadership on the global stage. Her vision and determination have steered Europe through unprecedented economic challenges, embodying Peter Sutherland’s values of collaboration, progress, and positive change. We are thrilled to honour her with the Sutherland Leadership Award at this very special event in Dublin.”

Seamus Hand, Managing Partner at KPMG, added: “KPMG is proud to support the recognition of exceptional leaders such as Christine Lagarde, whose contributions to global financial stability and economic progress have been truly transformative. Her unwavering commitment to collaboration and innovation reflects the values we strive to uphold in driving positive change in the business world. The Sutherland Leadership Award is a fitting tribute to her remarkable vision and leadership, and we are delighted to partner with Business & Finance for this prestigious event.”

Christine Lagarde’s acceptance of the Sutherland Leadership Award underscores her lifelong commitment to fostering multilateral cooperation and addressing the complexities of global governance. Her leadership serves as an inspiration for future generations and a testament to the power of collaboration in driving positive change.

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