Former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam is officially launching his campaign for the presidency of Ivory Coast in the upcoming election, as confirmed by his party. At 62, Thiam emerges as the sole candidate for the country's primary opposition party, the PDCI. After spending two decades overseas, he renounced his French citizenship to qualify as a presidential contender.
Thiam's distinguished career includes directorships at leading organizations, including Prudential and Credit Suisse; however, his tenure at the latter ended amid a controversial spying scandal. Political expert Geoffroy Kouao has noted that Thiam may not be a familiar figure to many Ivorians, which means he faces the challenge of establishing recognition and support as he heads into the October elections.
The governing party, RHDP, has yet to reveal its presidential candidate, although current President Alassane Ouattara has expressed interest in a fourth term. Meanwhile, three high-profile individuals—former President Laurent Gbagbo among them—have been prohibited from entering the race, as reported by AFP.
Thiam’s professional journey has been anything but straightforward. He was the first Ivorian to gain admission to France's elite Polytechnique engineering school and later returned to politics, becoming planning minister in 1998. His political career briefly paused after a coup ousted the PDCI from power the following year, prompting him to relocate abroad and pursue business opportunities.
He made history in 2009 when he became the first black leader of a company on the UK's prestigious FTSE 100, serving as CEO of Prudential. Despite facing criticism from financial watchdogs due to a takeover transparency issue, Thiam continued to make waves in the finance sector until his resignation from Credit Suisse in 2020 amid accusations of corporate espionage—allegations he has vehemently denied.
Tied to a robust political lineage, Thiam is the great-nephew of Ivory Coast's inaugural President, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, while his uncle, Habib Thiam, served multiple terms as Senegal's prime minister over nine years. As he navigates the political landscape, Thiam aims to leverage his connections and experience to rally support as elections approach.
Thiam's distinguished career includes directorships at leading organizations, including Prudential and Credit Suisse; however, his tenure at the latter ended amid a controversial spying scandal. Political expert Geoffroy Kouao has noted that Thiam may not be a familiar figure to many Ivorians, which means he faces the challenge of establishing recognition and support as he heads into the October elections.
The governing party, RHDP, has yet to reveal its presidential candidate, although current President Alassane Ouattara has expressed interest in a fourth term. Meanwhile, three high-profile individuals—former President Laurent Gbagbo among them—have been prohibited from entering the race, as reported by AFP.
Thiam’s professional journey has been anything but straightforward. He was the first Ivorian to gain admission to France's elite Polytechnique engineering school and later returned to politics, becoming planning minister in 1998. His political career briefly paused after a coup ousted the PDCI from power the following year, prompting him to relocate abroad and pursue business opportunities.
He made history in 2009 when he became the first black leader of a company on the UK's prestigious FTSE 100, serving as CEO of Prudential. Despite facing criticism from financial watchdogs due to a takeover transparency issue, Thiam continued to make waves in the finance sector until his resignation from Credit Suisse in 2020 amid accusations of corporate espionage—allegations he has vehemently denied.
Tied to a robust political lineage, Thiam is the great-nephew of Ivory Coast's inaugural President, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, while his uncle, Habib Thiam, served multiple terms as Senegal's prime minister over nine years. As he navigates the political landscape, Thiam aims to leverage his connections and experience to rally support as elections approach.
