Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde (née Lallouette) (born 1 January 1956) is a French economist, lawyer and politician who has been the Managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 5 July 2011. She previously served as French Minister of Finance from 19 June 2007 to 29 June 2011 when she was elected IMF managing director. Before that she served as French Minister for Commerce and Industry from 2 July 2005 to 15 May 2007 in the government of Dominique de Villepin.