Swiss multinational Nestlé SA has dismissed Chief Executive Officer Laurent Freixe with immediate effect following an internal investigation that confirmed an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate.
The company stated that the relationship violated its Code of Business Conduct, prompting swift action from the board to uphold its governance standards.
The dismissal was announced on September 1, 2025, and marks the end of Freixe’s nearly 40-year tenure with the company.
Philipp Navratil, previously CEO of Nestlé’s Nespresso division, has been appointed as the new CEO, effective immediately.
Nestlé CEO’s Investigation Triggered by Whistleblower Complaint
According to Nestlé’s official statement, the matter came to light through its internal whistleblower channel, “Speak Up.”
An initial inquiry earlier in the year had dismissed the allegations as unsubstantiated.
However, persistent complaints led to a second investigation, overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, with support from external legal counsel.
The probe confirmed that Laurent had engaged in a romantic relationship with a subordinate who was not part of the executive board.
The company emphasized that the relationship represented a conflict of interest and breached internal ethical guidelines.
“This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company,” said Chairman Paul in a statement.
“I thank Laurent for his years of service,” he added.
Laurent Freixe’s Career and Sudden Exit
Laurent Freixe, 63, joined Nestlé in 1986 and held various leadership roles across Europe and Latin America.
He was appointed CEO of Nestlé SA in September 2024, succeeding Mark Schneider.
His brief tenure as global CEO was marked by efforts to revive consumer spending amid economic headwinds, particularly in China.
Laurent had previously led Nestlé’s European operations through the 2008 subprime and eurozone crises and later headed the Latin America division.
His dismissal ends a four-decade career at the company. Nestlé has confirmed that Laurent will not receive an exit package.
Philipp Navratil: A Veteran Steps In
Philipp Navratil, a Nestlé veteran who joined the company in 2001, has been named the new CEO.
He began his career at Nestlé as an internal auditor.
Over the years, he held several leadership roles across Central America and Mexico, notably heading the coffee and beverage business from 2013 to 2020.
He later took charge of global strategy and innovation for the Nescafé and Starbucks brands.
Philipp became CEO of Nespresso in July 2024 and joined Nestlé’s executive board in January 2025.
In his first statement as CEO, Philipp said, “I fully embrace the company’s strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestlé’s performance.” He pledged to “drive the value creation plan with intensity.”
Chairman Paul expressed confidence in Philipp’s leadership, stating, “We are not changing course on strategy and we will not lose pace on performance.”
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