Nestlé Ousts CEO Laurent Freixe Over Undisclosed Relationship

Switzerland – Nestlé has abruptly dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe after he failed to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate, the Swiss food giant announced on Monday. The move comes just one year after Freixe assumed the top role, marking a dramatic shake-up at the company.

Nestlé confirmed that Philipp Navratil, a veteran executive and former head of the Nespresso business unit, has been appointed as the new CEO effective immediately.

Leadership Shake-Up Amid a Challenging Market

The sudden change in leadership comes as Nestlé navigates a difficult consumer environment and mounting risks from global trade tariffs. In June, the company also announced that long-standing Chairman Paul Bulcke will step down next year.

According to the company, Freixe’s dismissal followed an internal investigation overseen by Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, which revealed a violation of Nestlé’s code of business conduct due to an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct report.

“This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are the foundation of our company. We thank Laurent for his years of service,”
said Paul Bulcke in an official statement.
He added, “Our strategy remains unchanged, and we will not lose momentum.”

Who is Philipp Navratil?

Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 as an internal auditor. He later held several commercial roles in Central America, becoming Country Manager for Nestlé Honduras in 2009.

In 2013, he took charge of the coffee and beverage business in Mexico, then moved to the company’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit in 2020. In July 2024, he assumed leadership of Nespresso and officially joined Nestlé’s Executive Board in January this year.

Wider Trend: Executive Changes Across FMCG Giants

Freixe’s departure is part of a broader wave of leadership reshuffles in the global consumer goods sector. Earlier this year, companies such as Unilever, Diageo, and Hershey also announced significant management changes.
In a similar case, Kohl’s dismissed CEO Ashley Buchanan in May following an investigation into his involvement in a personal relationship linked to vendor deals.