First Black Chief Executive of a FTSE 100 Company

Tidjane Thiam makes history as first black chief executive of a FTSE 100 company

Tidjane Thiam, the new boss of the Prudential, created history yesterday by becoming the first black chief executive of a FTSE 100 company.

Mr Thiam, a French citizen who was born in the Ivory Coast, is finance director of Britain’s second-biggest insurer and will succeed Mark Tucker in October.

However, the timing of Mr Tucker’s departure astonished the City, raising speculation – denied by the company – that the Pru had been forced to accelerate its succession plans to prevent Mr Thiam being poached by a rival.

There was also speculation that Mr Tucker had gone amid unhappiness at the Pru’s recent decision not to bid for the Asian assets of AIG, the stricken American insurance group.

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