Nestlé’s Board of Directors has appointed Philipp Navratil as Chief Executive Officer following the immediate dismissal of Laurent Freixe.
The company said Freixe’s departure followed an investigation into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which breached Nestlé’s Code of Business Conduct. The investigation was overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, with support from independent outside counsel.
“This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service at Nestlé,” Bulcke said.
Freixe, who had been CEO for about a year, will be replaced by Philipp Navratil as CEO.
“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,” said Bulcke.
Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held senior roles in Central America, Mexico, and the company’s global coffee business. Most recently, he led Nespresso from July 2024 and joined the Nestlé Executive Board in January 2025.
“I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me, and it is a privilege to take on the responsibility of leading Nestlé into the future,” Mr Navratil said. “I fully embrace the company’s strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestlé’s performance.”
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