Nestle abruptly dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe on Monday for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate. The ouster came exactly one year after he assumed the top job.
The board acted following a second investigation led by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, which confirmed the breach of company conduct rules. Freixe initially denied the relationship and will not receive an exit package.
Nestlé dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe after only a year due to an undisclosed workplace affair, extending the management turmoil at the world’s biggest food company that’s known for its conservative corporate culture https://t.co/elVY9qfrVK
— Bloomberg (@business) September 2, 2025
📷: Gabriel Monnet/AFP/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/rDjNysThcD
Philipp Navratil, head of Nestle’s Nespresso unit, has been appointed as the new CEO. Navratil, a company veteran since 2001, previously led operations in Central America and Mexico before joining the executive board earlier this year.
The shake-up adds to concerns over Nestle’s direction as it faces weak consumer demand and U.S. trade tariffs. Shares have fallen 17% in the past year, underperforming peers. Analysts warn the leadership churn could cast further uncertainty over strategy.
Nestle abruptly dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate, a dramatic removal a year after he took the reins https://t.co/cWuqnUhIE8 pic.twitter.com/ThHtSlDlv5
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2025
