Nestlé dismisses CEO Laurent Freixe over policy breach, names Philipp Navratil as successor 

SWITZERLAND – Nestlé has announced the immediate departure of Chief Executive Officer Laurent Freixe following a violation of company policy linked to an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate. 

The Swiss multinational food and beverage giant confirmed the move on September 1, citing a breach of its code of business conduct. Freixe, who had been with the company for nearly four decades, was appointed CEO in August 2024 and officially assumed the role in September last year. 

“This was a necessary decision,” Nestlé Chairman Paul Bulcke said in a statement. “Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service.” 

The company named Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé’s coffee business Nespresso, as its new chief executive. Navratil, who joined Nestlé in 2001, has built his career through leadership roles across different regions and business units.  

He served as head of the coffee and beverages division in Mexico in 2013, later moving to Nestlé’s coffee strategic business unit in 2020. In July 2024, he became CEO of Nespresso and joined Nestlé’s executive board earlier this year. 

Bulcke expressed confidence in Navratil’s appointment, noting: “Philipp is recognised for his impressive track record of achieving results in challenging environments. Renowned for his dynamic presence, he inspires teams and leads with a collaborative, inclusive management style.”  

“The board is confident that he will drive our growth plans forward and accelerate efficiency efforts. We are not changing course on strategy and we will not lose pace on performance.” 

Navratil reaffirmed his commitment to the company’s direction, saying: “I fully embrace the company’s strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestlé’s performance. I look forward to working closely with the entire leadership of the company, in alignment with the board, chairman Paul Bulcke and chairman-designate Pablo Isla, to accelerate execution and drive the value creation plan with intensity.” 

The leadership transition comes ahead of another major change for Nestlé, as Bulcke will not stand for re-election at the company’s annual general meeting in April 2026.  

He has worked at Nestlé for nearly 40 years, including nine years as CEO before being succeeded by Mark Schneider in 2016. 

Nestlé recently reported a 1.8% decline in sales for the first half of 2025, totaling CHF 44.2 billion (US$55.8 billion), with profits falling to CHF 5.1 billion (US$6.4 billion) due to foreign exchange challenges and ongoing market volatility. 

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