Nestlé’s Peter Brabeck-Letmathe to step down as Chairman Emeritus in April 2026
57-year Nestlé veteran who shaped Nespresso and global coffee strategy ends honorary role.
SWITZERLAND – Nestlé has announced that former Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe will step down from his role as Chairman Emeritus effective 16 April 2026.
The largely honorary and advisory position has been held by Brabeck-Letmathe since 2017, following his retirement as Chairman of the Board.
Brabeck-Letmathe began his career with Nestlé in 1968, taking on a series of senior roles across South America before entering the company’s global leadership structure. He joined the Board of Directors in 1997 and was appointed Vice-Chairman in 2001.
In 2005, he assumed the role of Chairman, serving concurrently as CEO until April 2008. He stepped down from the chairmanship in 2017, subsequently transitioning into the Chairman Emeritus position.
Throughout his tenure as CEO, Brabeck-Letmathe played a central role in reshaping Nestlé’s coffee operations. In 1999, he directed the divestiture of the Hills Bros, MJB and Chase & Sanborn coffee brands to Sara Lee Corporation, a move intended to refocus the company’s U.S. coffee strategy toward the development of a new premium Nescafé line.
In 2003, he launched the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program in collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance. The initiative established direct engagement between Nespresso and coffee farmers to strengthen quality, productivity, and environmental practices across sourcing regions.
Further expansion followed with the inauguration of the Nestlé Professional Beverage Centre in Orbe, Switzerland, in 2007. The company also opened a Nespresso production and distribution hub in Avenches and a second R&D facility in Ohio, USA, the following year.
Nestlé Chairman Pablo Isla praised Brabeck-Letmathe’s contributions, stating that his “vision and commitment have left an unforgettable mark” on the company and expressing confidence that he would remain a valued friend to Nestlé.
Earlier this year, Brabeck-Letmathe also stepped down as interim chairman of the World Economic Forum after an investigation involving founder Klaus Schwab concluded without findings of wrongdoing.
His forthcoming departure from Nestlé comes shortly after a period of leadership changes at the company, including the dismissal of CEO Laurent Freixe over conduct violations and the early resignation of Chairman Paul Bulcke following investor concerns regarding governance and decision-making.
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