Written by Lisa Murimi
Former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam has officially been confirmed as the presidential candidate for Ivory Coast’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), ahead of the October 2025 elections.
Thiam, 62, returned to national politics after over two decades abroad in high-level business roles, including at Aviva, Prudential, and Credit Suisse.
He gave up his French citizenship to qualify for the presidency. A former planning minister in the 1990s, Thiam was forced out of politics following a coup in 1999.
He went on to become a financial trailblazer, becoming the first Black CEO of a FTSE 100 company in 2009.
However, his corporate career has been marred by controversy, including a 2020 resignation from Credit Suisse amid a spying scandal, which he denies.
Despite his international prominence, Thiam faces challenges at home.
“He is not well known to Ivorians,” said political analyst Geoffroy Kouao, noting his long absence from the country.
The ruling RHDP party has yet to name its candidate, though 83-year-old President Alassane Ouattara may seek a fourth term.
Three other major opposition figures, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, have been barred from running.
