Nestlé Dismisses CEO Laurent Freixe Over Undisclosed Romantic Relationship
VEVEY, SWITZERLAND
In a dramatic and abrupt move, Nestlé S.A. announced today the dismissal of its Chief Executive Officer, Laurent Freixe, just one year into his tenure. The company cited an “undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate” as the reason for his departure, a violation of the Swiss food giant’s strict Code of Business Conduct.
The decision was effective immediately, with the company naming Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive and head of the Nespresso division, as his successor.
In a statement, Nestlé’s Board of Directors confirmed that the dismissal followed a comprehensive internal investigation. The probe, which was overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla with the assistance of independent external counsel, found that the relationship breached company policy.
Chairman Bulcke addressed the move, calling it a “necessary decision.” “Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company,” he said. “I thank Laurent for his years of service at Nestlé.”
Freixe, a Nestlé veteran of nearly four decades, was appointed CEO in September 2024. He had been hailed as a natural leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and performance across the company. His abrupt exit marks yet another major leadership shake-up for the world’s largest food and beverage group, which has faced a series of recent management changes, including the unexpected ousting of his predecessor, Mark Schneider, in 2024.
The company’s swift action to remove Freixe highlights a growing trend among major corporations to enforce strict governance and ethical standards, particularly concerning personal conduct in the workplace. High-profile executives at other global companies like BP and McDonald’s have also been forced to resign in recent years for similar violations of company policy.
The new CEO, Philipp Navratil, joined Nestlé in 2001 and has held various leadership roles across Central America and Mexico before his most recent position as head of Nespresso. The company has expressed confidence in Navratil’s ability to maintain the current strategy and accelerate efficiency efforts. Freixe will reportedly receive no exit package, a clear signal that his dismissal was a result of ethical breaches rather than performance issues.
