"No, no, no no, no no," was what Christine Lagarde was reported to have said when asked last year if she was interested in running the European Central Bank (ECB).
Yet just a few months later, she has been nominated as the institution's new president.
Ms Lagarde - known as the "rock star" of international finance - said the new role was "an honour".
Poised, chic and known for her straight talking, she has become one of Europe's most influential ambassadors in the world of international finance.
Until this weekend, the main contenders for the ECB job were male central bankers.
But assuming the nomination is approved she will become the central bank's first ever female leader, responsible for the euro and the monetary policy of the eurozone.
