Nestlé has dismissed its CEO, Laurent Freixe, just a year into his tenure after an internal probe revealed a personal relationship with a direct subordinate, breaching the company’s code of conduct.
According to Reuters, the investigation began in spring and was overseen by Nestlé chairman Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla.
In a formal statement, Bulcke said, “This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are the strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service.”
Laurent Freixe, who took charge of the food and beverage giant in September 2024 after Mark Schneider’s exit, has been removed with immediate effect. Nestlé also confirmed that he will not be granted any severance package.
Who is Laurent Freixe?
Paris-born Laurent Freixe studied marketing at the Ecole de Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord in Lille and began his journey with Nestlé in France in 1986, working in marketing and sales. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, becoming CEO of Nestlé Hungary in 2003 and head of the Iberian region in 2007. After Nestlé’s global restructuring in January 2022, he was appointed CEO of Zone Latin America. In August 2024, the board chose him to succeed Mark Schneider as group CEO, officially taking charge on September 1, 2024.
Following his abrupt exit, Nestlé swiftly named Philipp Navratil as the new CEO of Nestlé SA. With over 20 years at the company, Navratil joined the executive board earlier in 2025 and previously led Nespresso, Nestlé’s coffee arm. His career also saw him serve as senior VP and head of the Coffee Strategic Business Unit, where he shaped the global strategy for Nescafé and managed Nestlé’s Starbucks licensing partnership.In his first statement as CEO, Navratil affirmed: “I fully support the company’s strategic direction and the action plan designed to strengthen Nestlé’s performance.”
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