Following an internal investigation, Nestlé has fired its CEO, Laurent Freixe, due to an undisclosed romantic relationship with an employee, a violation of the company’s code of business conduct. Philipp Navratil, a long-standing employee, has been selected to replace Freixe. The board of directors, overseen by Paul Bulcke and Pablo Isla, along with external legal counsel, conducted the investigation. Freixe, who will not receive an exit package, started his career at Nestlé in 1986, holding various positions before becoming the CEO of Zone Latin America in 2022. He was appointed to succeed Mark Schneider as global CEO in September 2024. The company aims to maintain strong governance and values, with Navratil’s appointment being crucial for upholding these standards during ongoing challenges.
