Nestlé, the Swiss food and beverage giant behind household brands like KitKat, Nescafé, and Nesquik, has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after he failed to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate. The company confirmed the decision on Monday, marking a dramatic leadership shakeup just a year after Freixe assumed the role.
Nestlé announced that Philipp Navratil, who previously headed its Nespresso coffee division, will step in as the new CEO with immediate effect.
Why Laurent Freixe Was Dismissed
The company revealed that Freixe’s dismissal followed an internal investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla. The probe found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s Code of Business Conduct by failing to disclose the relationship, which created a conflict of interest.
Bulcke 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. We are not changing course on strategy and we will not lose pace on performance.”
Freixe, a long-serving Nestlé executive, was promoted to CEO in 2024 after the company ousted his predecessor, Mark Schneider. His removal adds to a string of CEO shakeups across the global food and consumer goods industry, including Unilever, Diageo, Hershey, and Kohl’s, which all faced leadership exits linked to governance or personal conduct in 2025.
Philipp Navratil Steps In
Philipp Navratil, Nestlé’s new CEO, is a company veteran who began his career as an internal auditor in 2001. He has since held various leadership roles across Central America and Mexico, including heading the company’s coffee and beverage business.
- 2009: Appointed Country Manager for Nestlé Honduras
- 2013: Took over coffee and beverages in Mexico
- 2020: Moved to Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit
- 2024: Became head of Nespresso
- 2025: Joined the Nestlé Executive Board and now elevated to CEO
Navratil’s appointment is expected to bring stability at a time when Nestlé is navigating weak consumer demand, rising trade tariff risks, and a pending leadership transition as Chairman Paul Bulcke prepares to step down next year.
Industry-Wide Leadership Shakeups
Nestlé’s sudden CEO change mirrors turbulence across the consumer goods sector in 2025:
- Kohl’s dismissed CEO Ashley Buchanan earlier this year over undisclosed personal dealings.
- Unilever, Diageo, and Hershey have all announced top-level management changes amid governance pressures.
With Freixe’s exit, analysts expect investors to closely monitor Nestlé’s performance and leadership continuity as it seeks to maintain its competitive edge in global markets.
