Nestle CEO Laurent Freixe addresses the Annual Common Assembly of Nestle in Ecublens close to Lausanne, Switzerland, April 16, 2025.
Pierre Albouy | Reuters
Nestle has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after a code of conduct breach, it stated on Monday, appointing Philipp Navratil as his successor.
Nestle stated Freixe’s departure follows an investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Unbiased Director Pablo Isla into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate which breached the corporate’s code of enterprise conduct.
“This was a needed choice,” stated Bulcke in a press release. “Nestle’s values and governance are sturdy foundations of our firm. I thank Laurent for his years of service.”
Firm veteran Freixe took over the CEO position in September final 12 months after Nestle ousted his predecessor Mark Schneider.
Navratil started his profession with Nestle in 2001 as an inner auditor. After holding varied industrial roles in Central America, he was appointed nation supervisor for Nestle Honduras in 2009.
He assumed management of the espresso and beverage enterprise in Mexico in 2013, and transitioned to Nestle’s Espresso strategic enterprise unit in 2020.
He moved to Nespresso in July 2024, and joined the Nestle government board on January 1 this 12 months.