Tidjane Thiam Announces Candidacy for Ivory Coast Presidency

Tidjane Thiam, the former CEO of Credit Suisse, has officially declared his candidacy for the presidency of Ivory Coast as the main opposition party's nominee. Having spent two decades abroad, Thiam faces challenges in reconnecting with the Ivorian electorate ahead of the October polls.

Former Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam is now a presidential candidate for the Ivorian elections, confirmed by his political party, PDCI. At 62, Thiam stands as the sole nominee for his party, aiming to break into the political landscape after years of working internationally. To participate in the election, he renounced his French citizenship. Political experts note his relatively low recognition among Ivorians due to his prolonged absence, indicating the necessity of a robust campaign strategy.

Currently, the ruling RHDP party has yet to announce its candidate, though incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, 83, has expressed intentions to seek a fourth term. Notably, other prominent candidates, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, are disqualified from the race.

Tidjane Thiam's career has been marked by significant milestones, including being the first Ivorian graduate of France's prestigious Polytechnique engineering school and ascending to positions within top firms such as Prudential and Aviva. He made history in 2009 when he became the first black CEO of a company listed in the UK's FTSE 100. Nevertheless, his tenure at Credit Suisse ended controversially due to a spying scandal, which he denies.

Thiam also has deep-rooted connections to West African politics; he is the great-nephew of Ivory Coast's founding president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, and has a familial legacy of political prominence in the region. As the election approaches, Thiam must navigate the challenges of re-establishing his presence in a politically charged environment.