Nestlé CEO Laurent Freaks addressed Nestlé’s annual meeting held on April 16, 2025 in Eckbrinth near Lausanne, Switzerland.
Pierre Albouis | Reuters
Nestle The Swiss food giant said on Monday that it had made a dramatic removal a year after he took the reins, and the Swiss food giant suddenly rejected CEO Laurent Freixe for not revealing a romantic relationship with his subordinates.
The manufacturer of products from Kitkat to Nesquik said they have appointed veteran insider Philipp Navratil, who led the Nespresso Coffee Unit, as Freixe’s successor.
The shock departure threatens more volatility for Nestlé amid the harsh consumer environment and global threats of trade tariffs. The company announced in June that longtime chairman Paul Brucke would fall next year.
Nestlé said Freakse’s departure, following an investigation by Barsuke, led independent director Pablo Isla, to develop private, romantic relationships with his subordinates, which violated the company’s code of business conduct.
“This was a necessary decision,” Bulcke said in a statement. “Nestlé’s values and governance are a strong foundation for our company. Laurent is grateful for the years of service.”
“We haven’t changed courses of strategy so we don’t lose our performance pace.”
Company veteran Freixe took over the CEO role just a year ago after Nestle kicked out his predecessor, Mark Schneider.
The sudden exit is the latest management remodeling of global consumer goods and food companies, including Nestle Rival Unilever, Diageo and Hershey this year.
Cole’s fired CEO Ashley Buchanan was fired in May after it was revealed that within 100 days he wanted a deal with a vendor who had a personal relationship with him in that position.
Navratil began his career at Nestlé in 2001 as an internal auditor. After playing various commercial roles in Central America, he was appointed country manager in Nestle Honduras in 2009.
He took on leadership in the Coffee and Beverage business in Mexico in 2013 and moved to Nestlé’s Coffee Strategy Business Unit in 2020.
He moved to Nespresso in July 2024 and joined the Nestlé Executive Committee on January 1st this year.
