Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - Nestlé has removed CEO Laurent Freixe from his position following an internal investigation into a code of conduct violation.
The company announced that Philipp Navratil, a long-serving
Nestlé executive, has been appointed as his successor.
The investigation, overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead
Independent Director Pablo Isla, revealed that Freixe engaged in an undisclosed
romantic relationship with a direct subordinate—an act deemed to have breached
the company’s strict code of business conduct.
Bulcke stated:“This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values
and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his
years of service.”
Freixe had taken over as CEO in September 2024 after the
company ousted his predecessor, Mark Schneider.
Navratil, who began his Nestlé career in 2001 as an internal
auditor, has held key roles across Central America, Mexico, and the company’s
global coffee division. He joined Nespresso in 2024 and became a member of
Nestlé’s executive board in January 2025, making him a natural successor amid
the leadership shake-up.
The abrupt departure underscores Nestlé’s zero-tolerance
policy for breaches of corporate ethics and signals a renewed focus on
governance and integrity at the highest level of the company.
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