Christine Lagarde’s appointment to the helm of the European Central Bank marks a poignant moment for the woman who fought for years to loosen the male grip on its leadership. “It’s great -- about time,” said Sharon Bowles, a former senior lawmaker in the European Parliament, when asked about the nomination of the International Monetary Fund chief. “It’s 10 years since we started campaigning” for this, she said by phone, in audibly good humor. Scrutinizing appointments as chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, Bowles led a revolt against a consistent flow of male nominations to the six-member ECB’s ... (full story)