Who is Laurent Freixe? Nestlé CEO Fired Over Relationship With Employee

Nestlé has dismissed its chief executive, Laurent Freixe, after an internal investigation revealed he was involved in an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate. The company said the decision was necessary to uphold its values and governance standards.

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Probe Led to Exit

According to Reuters, the inquiry began earlier this year under the supervision of Nestlé’s chairman Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla. “This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service,” Bulcke said in a statement.

Freixe’s Nestlé Journey

Born in Paris, Freixe studied marketing at the Ecole de Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord in Lille. He joined Nestlé in 1986 and spent decades across multiple regions, including Hungary and the Iberian market. By 2022, he became CEO of Zone Latin America and, in September 2024, was appointed CEO of Nestlé SA. His dismissal was immediate, and he will not receive an exit package.

Philipp Navratil Named Successor

Nestlé has appointed company veteran Philipp Navratil as its new CEO. With over 20 years at the company, Navratil most recently headed Nespresso and previously served as senior vice president of the Coffee Strategic Business Unit, overseeing Nescafé and the Starbucks partnership.

New Era for Nestlé

Navratil, now at the helm, emphasized his commitment to Nestlé’s current strategic direction. “I fully embrace the company’s strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestlé’s performance,” he said. The leadership change signals a fresh chapter for the global food and beverage giant.

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