Nestlé announced on Monday that it has removed Laurent Freixe from his role as chief executive officer after determining that he engaged in an undisclosed romantic relationship with a subordinate, in violation of the company’s internal policies. The board has appointed Philipp Navratil, currently the chief executive of Nespresso, as his successor with immediate effect.
Freixe’s dismissal followed an internal investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, conducted with the support of external legal counsel. The investigation concluded that the relationship breached Nestlé’s Code of Business Conduct. In a statement, Bulcke described the decision as necessary, emphasizing that Nestlé’s values and governance standards are fundamental to the company. He also acknowledged Freixe’s long service and contributions to the organization.
Freixe spent nearly four decades at the Swiss food and beverage group and had served as chief executive for just over a year. He was appointed to the role in late August 2024 after the resignation of former CEO Mark Schneider, who stepped down amid a period of weak sales performance.
Navratil brings close to 25 years of experience at Nestlé. His career includes leadership roles within the company’s coffee operations in Honduras and Mexico, before he was named chief executive of Nespresso, Nestlé’s premium home-brew coffee business, in July 2024. Commenting on his appointment, Navratil said he was honored by the board’s confidence and viewed the role as a privilege and a responsibility as he takes on leadership of the company’s future direction.
