Nestle expels CEO Laurent Freixe over workplace relationship
The role has been handed over to Philipp Navratil, a long-time Nestle executive who joined the company in 2001 and most recently headed the Nespresso division.
PTC News Desk: Nestle has dismissed Chief Executive Laurent Freixe after an internal investigation revealed he was involved in an undisclosed relationship with a subordinate, violating the company’s code of conduct.
The role has been handed over to Philipp Navratil, a long-time Nestle executive who joined the company in 2001 and most recently headed the Nespresso division. According to the company’s statement, Freixe’s removal followed the probe confirming the undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct report.
According to a statement, Freixe was removed following a rigorous investigation that revealed he had an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which breached Nestle's code of business conduct.
The board said that it had ordered an investigation, overseen by the Chairman Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla, coupled with support from outside counsel.
“This was a necessary decision,” Chairman Paul Bulcke said, adding that Nestle's governance remained intact. “Nestle's values and governance are strong foundations of our company," he added.
Before being elevated to the top post, Navratil served in multiple roles across Central America and in Nestle’s global coffee division.
He began his career with the company in 2001 as an internal auditor and later took up various assignments in Central America. In 2020, he moved to Nestle’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, and by 2024, he was leading the Nespresso division as its CEO.
Nestle, based in Vevey, Switzerland, has been grappling with rising commodity prices and tariffs. In July, the company noted that price hikes had helped offset increased costs of coffee and cocoa.