Pierre Thiam is a chef, author and social activist known for bringing West African cuisine to the world of haute cuisine. He is the executive chef at the award-winning restaurant Nok by Alara in Lagos, Nigeria and chef at the five-star Pullman Hotel in Dakar, Senegal. He is also the executive chef and co-owner of Teranga, a fast-food chain in New York. His company Yolélé Foods champions small farmers in the Sahel by opening up new markets for crops grown in Africa.

Thiam was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, and, therefore, his style of cooking is both modern and eclectic, and has its roots in the rich culinary traditions of West Africa. He has become known as a culinary ambassador through his many appearances in the media, dedicated to promoting the cuisine of West Africa around the world. Thiam is on the board of IDEO.org and SOS Sahel.