Who became the first woman to chair the U.S. Federal Reserve in 2014?

Janet Yellen became the first woman to chair the U.S. Federal Reserve in 2014.

President Barack Obama nominated Yellen in October 2013, and the U.S. Senate confirmed her in January 2014. She succeeded Ben Bernanke, who had led the Federal Reserve during the global financial crisis.

Yellen served as chair from February 2014 until February 2018. During her term, the Federal Reserve gradually raised interest rates after years of exceptionally low rates and continued reducing some of the extraordinary support introduced during the financial crisis.

Yellen is sometimes confused with Christine Lagarde, who became the first woman to lead the International Monetary Fund in 2019. Yellen later became the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of the treasury, taking office in 2021.