<p>In a statement, the IMF said French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and the Mexican economist Agustin Carstens were interviewed by its Executive Board this week.<br />The two candidates also met the board members individually.<br /><br />While Lagarde, a French national, is Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment of France; Carstens is a Mexican national and Governor of the Bank of Mexico, as well as a former Deputy Managing Director of the IMF.<br /><br />Their names were announced after the period for submitting nominations for the position of the next Managing Director closed on Friday, June 10.<br /><br />"These meetings have been an opportunity for both candidates to present to the Executive Board all relevant information concerning their respective candidacies," A Shakour Shaalan, the Dean of the IMF Executive Board, said in a statement.<br /><br />The board plans to meet early next week to discuss the strengths of each candidate, with the aim of completing the selection process by June 30, Shaalan said.<br /><br />"Although the board may select a Managing Director by a majority of the votes cast, the board's objective is to select the Managing Director by consensus in a formal meeting," the statement said, adding that the selection of the next Managing Director will be announced through a press release.</p>
<p>In a statement, the IMF said French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and the Mexican economist Agustin Carstens were interviewed by its Executive Board this week.<br />The two candidates also met the board members individually.<br /><br />While Lagarde, a French national, is Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment of France; Carstens is a Mexican national and Governor of the Bank of Mexico, as well as a former Deputy Managing Director of the IMF.<br /><br />Their names were announced after the period for submitting nominations for the position of the next Managing Director closed on Friday, June 10.<br /><br />"These meetings have been an opportunity for both candidates to present to the Executive Board all relevant information concerning their respective candidacies," A Shakour Shaalan, the Dean of the IMF Executive Board, said in a statement.<br /><br />The board plans to meet early next week to discuss the strengths of each candidate, with the aim of completing the selection process by June 30, Shaalan said.<br /><br />"Although the board may select a Managing Director by a majority of the votes cast, the board's objective is to select the Managing Director by consensus in a formal meeting," the statement said, adding that the selection of the next Managing Director will be announced through a press release.</p>