This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7954550.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
First black FTSE 100 boss at Pru First black FTSE 100 boss at Pru
(5 days later)
Tidjane Thiam will become chief executive of Prudential in October, becoming the first black head of a FTSE 100 company.Tidjane Thiam will become chief executive of Prudential in October, becoming the first black head of a FTSE 100 company.
Mr Thiam joined Prudential from Aviva in 2007 and is now finance director at the firm. He will replace Mark Tucker.Mr Thiam joined Prudential from Aviva in 2007 and is now finance director at the firm. He will replace Mark Tucker.
Originally from the Ivory Coast, Mr Thiam had previously been the country's Minister of Planning and Development.Originally from the Ivory Coast, Mr Thiam had previously been the country's Minister of Planning and Development.
Mr Thiam will be one of a limited number of ethnic minorities who are represented in the UK's boardrooms.Mr Thiam will be one of a limited number of ethnic minorities who are represented in the UK's boardrooms.
Earlier than expectedEarlier than expected
I hope Mr Thiam's achievements will inspire ethnic minority teenagers, entry-level workers and current employees to stand-up and be counted in the race for leadership Sandra Kerr, Director, Race for Opportunity href="/1/hi/business/7955282.stm">Viewpoint: Watershed moment I hope Mr Thiam's achievements will inspire ethnic minority teenagers, entry-level workers and current employees to stand-up and be counted in the race for leadership Sandra Kerr, Director, Race for Opportunity href="/1/hi/business/7955282.stm"> Viewpoint: Watershed moment
On Friday, Prudential shares were trading up 5.6% on the news of Mr Thiam's appointment, and on the company's higher-than-expected results released on Thursday.On Friday, Prudential shares were trading up 5.6% on the news of Mr Thiam's appointment, and on the company's higher-than-expected results released on Thursday.
Prudential's operating profits were up 17% to £2.96bn in 2008, and it said it had strong reserves to weather the economic downturn. Prudential's operating profits were up 17% to £2.96bn in 2008, and it said it had strong reserves to weather the economic downturn.
Mr Thiam, 46, will take up the reins as chief executive on October after Mr Tucker, 51, announced that he would step down earlier than expected.Mr Thiam, 46, will take up the reins as chief executive on October after Mr Tucker, 51, announced that he would step down earlier than expected.
Mr Tucker has led the company for four-and-a-half years and has been at Prudential for 25 years.Mr Tucker has led the company for four-and-a-half years and has been at Prudential for 25 years.
Commenting on his appointment Mr Thiam said: "It is a privilege to be a successor. In the meantime, I'm the chief financial officer and I have a job to do, that is what I intend to focus on in the next six months."Commenting on his appointment Mr Thiam said: "It is a privilege to be a successor. In the meantime, I'm the chief financial officer and I have a job to do, that is what I intend to focus on in the next six months."
"It is very significant because it sets a wider precedent," said Michael Eboda, the founder of Powerful Media, which publishes a list of Britain's 100 most influential black people."It is very significant because it sets a wider precedent," said Michael Eboda, the founder of Powerful Media, which publishes a list of Britain's 100 most influential black people.
"No one will see this as tokenism - he has an incredibly impressive curriculum vitae.""No one will see this as tokenism - he has an incredibly impressive curriculum vitae."
THIAM'S CAREER SO FAR March 2009: Appointed successor to Prudential CEO Mark Tucker Named second most influential black Briton in 2008Chief executive, Europe at insurance giant AvivaPartner with management consultants McKinsey & CompanyChief executive, National Bureau for Technical Studies and Development, Ivory CoastMinister of Planning and Development in Ivory Coast governmentStudied engineering in Paris and gained MBA from INSEAD href="/1/hi/business/7954981.stm">Tidjane Thiam: A life story THIAM'S CAREER SO FAR March 2009: Appointed successor to Prudential CEO Mark Tucker Named second most influential black Briton in 2008Chief executive, Europe at insurance giant AvivaPartner with management consultants McKinsey & CompanyChief executive, National Bureau for Technical Studies and Development, Ivory CoastMinister of Planning and Development in Ivory Coast governmentStudied engineering in Paris and gained MBA from INSEAD href="/1/hi/business/7954981.stm"> Tidjane Thiam: A life story
An avid Arsenal supporter, he studied engineering in Paris and obtained an MBA from INSEAD. Before working at Aviva for five years, he was employed at McKinsey's Paris offices.An avid Arsenal supporter, he studied engineering in Paris and obtained an MBA from INSEAD. Before working at Aviva for five years, he was employed at McKinsey's Paris offices.
Mr Thiam joins the few ethnic minorities such as Damon Buffini, boss of private equity firm Permira, represented in the UK's boardrooms.Mr Thiam joins the few ethnic minorities such as Damon Buffini, boss of private equity firm Permira, represented in the UK's boardrooms.
"He is immensely charming," said ING equities analyst Kevin Ryan."He is immensely charming," said ING equities analyst Kevin Ryan.
"He has a brain the size of two solar systems, he is a very, very clever bloke," he added."He has a brain the size of two solar systems, he is a very, very clever bloke," he added.
Sandra Kerr, director of Race for Opportunity which campaigns for equality in the workplace, described Mr Thiam's appointment as a "watershed" moment.Sandra Kerr, director of Race for Opportunity which campaigns for equality in the workplace, described Mr Thiam's appointment as a "watershed" moment.
"I hope that Tidjane Thiam's achievements will inspire ethnic minority teenagers, entry-level workers and current employees to stand-up and be counted in the race for leadership," she wrote in a viewpoint piece for the BBC News website."I hope that Tidjane Thiam's achievements will inspire ethnic minority teenagers, entry-level workers and current employees to stand-up and be counted in the race for leadership," she wrote in a viewpoint piece for the BBC News website.
"However, it should be remembered that Tidjane Thiam was born and educated outside of the United Kingdom. His success should not be claimed as a success for the promotion of ethnic minorities from classroom to boardroom in the United Kingdom"."However, it should be remembered that Tidjane Thiam was born and educated outside of the United Kingdom. His success should not be claimed as a success for the promotion of ethnic minorities from classroom to boardroom in the United Kingdom".