ECB President Lagarde expected to leave bank before term expires next year, FT reports

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Christine Lagarde is expected to leave as president of the European Central Bank (ECB) before the end of her eight-year term that expires in October 2027 , the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing a person familiar with her thinking.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The ECB did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Lagarde wants to exit the bank before the French presidential election in April next year, the FT said.

(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Kim Coghill)