Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigns: potential successors as head of the IMF

Traditionally, the top job at the IMF has gone to a European (in return, the US get the World Bank). Europe is expected to fight for this status quo to continue, making French finance minister Christine Lagarde a top candidate. She has played a strong role in protecting the French financial system since the credit crunch struck, but her alleged role in the Bernard Tapie affair could be an obstacle Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images

Axel Weber is also in contention for the top job at the IMF. He stepped down as president of the Bundesbank earlier this year, and has been reported to be Angela Merkel's favoured choice - despite the pair clashing over the decision by the European Central Bank to start buying some government bonds. Photograph: Hans Punz/AP

Kemal Dervis, Turkey's former economy minister, was initially regarded as the leading emerging market candidate for the IMF. He has now ruled himself out, however: "I have not been, and will not be, a candidate,” he said. Dervis currently directs the global economy programme at the Brookings Institution in Washington Photograph: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

Agustin Carstens, Mexico's central bank governor, would fit the bill as a representative of a growing and vibrant emerging economy. But as a graduate of the University of Chicago, which spawned a legion of hardline monetarists, he would be considered a backward step by Strauss-Kahn supporters Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

If the job stays with a European, then Gordon Brown could fit the bill. He knows many senior IMF staff having served on its policy committee for 10 years, and is well-experienced in the machinations of international negotiations. David Cameron is hostile to the idea – but Brown is said to consider Cameron's antipathy to his candidature as a bonus Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/Guardian

John Lipsky has taken over the running of the IMF in Strauss-Kahns absence, and has been cited as a possible permanent replacement. However he had been scheduled to retire at the end of August. Photograph: Stephen Jaffe/AFP/Getty Images

Italy's Mario Draghi would be a very plausible choice to replace Strauss-Kahn. "Super Mario" runs the Bank of Italy today, after stints at the World Bank and Goldman Sachs. However, he is the frontrunner to take over the European Central Bank Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, currently deputy chair of India's Planning Commission, is another potential candidate from outside Europe. He knows the IMF well, having been the first director of its independent evaluation office. However he told reporters that he was 'not looking at any such posts as of now' Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Shri S Sridhar runs the private-sector Central Bank of India. The long-time banker is another orthodox candidate who is currently aggressively expanding his operations across Asia, but could drop everything to be IMF boss Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Stanley Fischer was described by world-renowned economist Nouriel Roubini as 'brilliant' when his name entered the frame as a possible replacement. He won a second five-year stint as governor of the Bank of Israel last year. But like Carsterns, he is considered a hawk Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Singapore's finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam is another possible candidate especially if the IMF decides it needs a head from a country outside Europe, but not as powerful as India or China. He currently chairs the IMF’s International Monetary and Financial Committee, a role previously filled by Gordon Brown. Photograph: Getty Images

Former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel has been talked about as a potential IMF leader for many years. However he is involved in a racism row which would undermine his diplomatic credentials Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Dr. Mohamed A. El-Erian, who currently runs bond trading giant Pimco, has been nominated for the job in the past. However, he has said this week that it is important that any successor is appointed quickly, otherwise 'the IMF would inevitably operate under a huge cloud' Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images