Former Credit Suisse boss Tidjane Thiam is set to run for the presidency in Ivory Coast’s upcoming election, confirmed by his party. At 62 years old, Thiam emerged as the only candidate for the main opposition party, PDCI. Having spent the last twenty years abroad, he faced the challenge of renouncing his French citizenship to qualify for the presidential race. Despite an illustrious career with various leading global firms such as Aviva and Prudential, political experts like Geoffroy Kouao note Thiam's need for a robust campaign given his relative unfamiliarity among Ivorian citizens since his exit from the country.
The ruling party, RHDP, has yet to announce their candidate, though President Alassane Ouattara, aged 83, has hinted at seeking a fourth-term bid. Meanwhile, three notable political figures, including ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, have been disqualified from the race. Thiam has a distinguished background, being the first Ivorian to pass France’s prestigious Polytechnique entrance exam before serving as the planning minister in 1998. His career transitioned from politics to business, marking several milestones, such as becoming the first black CEO of a FTSE 100 company in the UK at Prudential.
Thiam left Credit Suisse in 2020 after being embroiled in a spying controversy, though he has denied the allegations. His extensive networks within West African political circles include ties to notable figures, as he is the great-nephew of Ivory Coast's first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny. As Ivory Coast prepares for the elections in October, the dynamics among candidates will shape the political landscape of the country moving forward.
The ruling party, RHDP, has yet to announce their candidate, though President Alassane Ouattara, aged 83, has hinted at seeking a fourth-term bid. Meanwhile, three notable political figures, including ex-President Laurent Gbagbo, have been disqualified from the race. Thiam has a distinguished background, being the first Ivorian to pass France’s prestigious Polytechnique entrance exam before serving as the planning minister in 1998. His career transitioned from politics to business, marking several milestones, such as becoming the first black CEO of a FTSE 100 company in the UK at Prudential.
Thiam left Credit Suisse in 2020 after being embroiled in a spying controversy, though he has denied the allegations. His extensive networks within West African political circles include ties to notable figures, as he is the great-nephew of Ivory Coast's first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny. As Ivory Coast prepares for the elections in October, the dynamics among candidates will shape the political landscape of the country moving forward.
