Nestlé has dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe after an internal investigation found he violated the company’s code of business conduct by engaging in an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate.
The probe, led by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, concluded that Freixe’s actions breached Nestlé’s strict ethical standards.
“This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service,” Bulcke said in a statement.
Freixe, who became CEO in September 2024 following the removal of Mark Schneider, will be replaced by Philipp Navratil, a long-serving Nestlé executive.
Navratil joined the company in 2001 as an internal auditor and has since held senior positions in Central America, Mexico, and the global coffee division. He joined Nespresso in 2024 and was promoted to the Nestlé executive board in January 2025. His extensive experience made him the natural choice to take over amid the leadership shake-up.
The abrupt change highlights Nestlé’s zero-tolerance approach to ethical violations and reinforces its commitment to governance and integrity at the highest level.
