Credit Suisse Apologizes for Black Janitor Act at Chairman Party

Credit Suisse Group AG apologized for “any offense” caused by a performer who dressed as a janitor at a party for the bank’s chairman last year, causing former Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam to leave the room.

The New York Times on Saturday reported that chairman Urs Rohner held a party at a Zurich restaurant to celebrate his 60th birthday last November. Thiam left after a Black performer came onstage dressed as a janitor, and began to dance to music while sweeping the floor, the newspaper reported, adding that the festivities had a Studio 54 theme, with 1970s costumes.

Tidjane Thiam

Photographer: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg