Nestlé removes CEO Laurent Freixe over ‘undisclosed romantic relationship with a subordinate’
Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestle, has been removed from his role after an internal investigations surrounding an alleged relationship with a junior staff member. Pic: Nestle
A shock major move has been confirmed by Nestlé, as CEO Laurent Freixe has been fired with immediate effect following an internal investigation into what has been described as ‘an undisclosed romantic relationship with a subordinate,’ writes Neill Barston.
Notably, as the Swiss-headquartered firm stated, its senior leader had been found to be in beach of its code of conduct, having taken up the top post just over a year ago, last August, having served as the Latin American divisional executive vice president.
Significantly, Nestlé has moved to appoint his successor swiftly, naming Philipp Navratil, who has spent more than two decades with the business, including senior strategic roles.
As the company stated, its decision over Freixe has been made following a board-led investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director, Pablo Isla, with the support of independent outside counsel.
Paul Bulcke, Chairman, stated: “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.”
He continued: “I am pleased to announce Philipp Navratil as CEO. Philipp is recogniaed 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.”
As the company explained, Philipp Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 as an internal auditor. After holding various commercial roles in Central America, he was appointed Country Manager for Nestlé Honduras in 2009. In 2013, Philipp Navratil assumed leadership of the coffee and beverage business in Mexico, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening the Nescafé brand.
In 2020, he transitioned to Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, where he was responsible for shaping the global strategy and driving innovation for Nescafé and Starbucks coffee brands. He assumed his position at Nespresso in July 2024, where he has accelerated growth and built strong momentum. Philipp Navratil joined the Nestlé Executive Board on January 1, 2025.
Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé, added: “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. 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 to drive the value creation plan with intensity.”
