Tidjane Thiam

Tidjane Thiam
Name	Tidjane Thiam
Birth date	29 July 1962
Birth place	Ivory Coast
Nationality	Ivorian and French
Education	Lycée Louis-le-Grand, École Polytechnique, École des Mines de Paris, INSEAD
Occupation	Business executive, former government minister
Known for	CEO of Prudential plc (2009–2015), CEO of Credit Suisse (2015–2020)

Tidjane Thiam is an Ivorian-French business executive renowned for his leadership in the global financial services and insurance sectors. He served as the Group Chief Executive of Prudential plc from 2009 to 2015, where he significantly expanded the company's operations in Asia, before becoming the CEO of Credit Suisse from 2015 to 2020. His career also includes a stint in public service as a minister in the government of Côte d'Ivoire and earlier roles in management consulting at McKinsey & Company.

Early life and education

Thiam was born in Ivory Coast and is a member of the Mandinka ethnic group. He attended the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris before being admitted to the École Polytechnique, one of France's most elite Grandes écoles. He subsequently graduated from the École des Mines de Paris and later earned an MBA from INSEAD. His academic background in engineering and business provided a strong foundation for his future career in complex organizational management.

Career in consulting and government

Thiam began his professional career at the global strategy firm McKinsey & Company in Paris, where he became a partner. In 1994, he returned to Côte d'Ivoire to serve in the government of President Henri Konan Bédié. He held several key ministerial portfolios, including the Planning and Development and later the Mines and Energy, playing a role in the country's economic policy. Following a period of political instability, including the 1999 Ivorian coup d'état, he returned to McKinsey & Company in London.

Leadership at Prudential

In 2008, Thiam joined the British insurer Prudential plc as Finance Director and was appointed Group Chief Executive in 2009. His tenure is noted for a strategic pivot towards high-growth markets in Asia, particularly in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. He successfully led the company through the aftermath of the global financial crisis and oversaw a significant increase in Prudential's market capitalization and profits, cementing its status as a leading life insurance provider in the region.

Tenure at Credit Suisse

In July 2015, Thiam was appointed CEO of the Swiss global investment bank Credit Suisse, becoming one of the few black executives to lead a major European bank. His strategy focused on shifting the bank's emphasis from volatile investment banking towards more stable wealth management, while also implementing a major cost-cutting initiative. His tenure was marked by a significant restructuring, including job cuts and the raising of capital, but was also overshadowed by a high-profile spying scandal in 2019 involving the former head of Wealth Management, Iqbal Khan. Thiam resigned from Credit Suisse in February 2020.

Post-Credit Suisse activities and roles

Following his departure from Credit Suisse, Thiam joined the board of the multinational alcoholic drinks company Diageo in 2021. He has also taken on significant roles in international organizations, including being appointed as the Special Envoy of the African Union for the COVID-19 pandemic response, focusing on mobilizing financial resources for vaccine acquisition across the continent. In 2023, he was named the Chairman of the pan-African financial services group Liberty Group.

Personal life and recognition

Thiam holds dual citizenship of Côte d'Ivoire and France. He is a polyglot, speaking French, English, and several African languages. He has received numerous accolades, including being named a Commander of the Ivorian National Order and featuring on lists such as *Time* magazine's 100 most influential people. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and has been involved with various educational and cultural institutions, including the Africa Center in New York City.

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Ivorian businesspeople Category:French businesspeople Category:Chief executives in the financial services industry