Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Due to Relationship with Employee

Laurent Freixe has been dismissed from his position as CEO of Nestlé after an internal inquiry uncovered a romantic relationship with a staff member, a breach of the company’s business conduct guidelines. The board of directors, led by Paul Bulcke and Pablo Isla, initiated the investigation, supported by external legal counsel. Philipp Navratil, a Nestlé veteran, has been named the new CEO. The company confirmed that Freixe will not be granted an exit package. Freixe’s career at Nestlé began in France in 1986; he later held CEO positions in Hungary and the Iberian region. He was appointed CEO of Zone Latin America in 2022, and then as global CEO, succeeding Mark Schneider, in September 2024. The board of directors emphasized the importance of maintaining strong governance within the company, with Navratil’s appointment occurring during a critical time for upholding company values.