Former Credit Suisse boss to run for Ivory Coast president

Former Credit Suisse boss Tidjane Thiam is to run for president in Ivory Coast's forthcoming election, his party has confirmed.

Thiam, 62, was the only candidate vying to represent the country's main opposition party, the PDCI.

Thiam has spent the last two decades living abroad, and had to give up his French citizenship to be able to stand in the presidential election.

The former minister has held directorship positions in leading international businesses like Aviva, Prudential and Credit Suisse, though he resigned from the latter following a spying scandal.

It has not been confirmed who Thiam will challenge from the governing RHDP party, but the current president, 83-year-old Alassane Ouattara, has indicated that he would like to run in October's poll.

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