Nestlé has decided to remove its Chief Executive Officer, Laurent Freixe, from his role after an internal investigation showed he had broken the company’s code of conduct.
The company explained that Philipp Navratil, a trusted and experienced Nestlé executive, will now step in as the new CEO.
The investigation was led by Nestlé’s Chairman, Paul Bulcke, together with Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla. Their findings showed that Freixe had been involved in a romantic relationship with an employee who reported directly to him. Since this type of relationship goes against Nestlé’s strict business conduct rules, the company considered it a serious violation.
Paul Bulcke shared a statement saying: This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and strong governance are the foundation of who we are. We thank Laurent for his many years of service.
Freixe had only recently taken on the CEO position in September 2024, following the removal of former CEO Mark Schneider. His time as leader was short-lived because of this breach of trust.
His replacement, Philipp Navratil, has been with Nestlé for more than 20 years. He started his career in 2001 as an internal auditor and has since worked in several important roles, including overseeing operations in Central America, Mexico, and Nestlé’s global coffee division. More recently, he joined Nespresso in 2024 and was promoted to the company’s executive board in January 2025. With his long history at the company and broad experience, Nestlé sees him as a natural choice to take over leadership during this sudden change.
This unexpected leadership shake-up highlights Nestlé’s zero tolerance approach to misconduct and unethical behavior. The company is making it clear that no matter how high the position, rules and values must be respected. By appointing Navratil, Nestlé is also sending a strong signal that it wants to move forward with a renewed commitment to good governance, integrity, and ethical leadership at the very top of the organization.
