Nestlé appoints Philipp Navratil as CEO after Laurent Freixe sacking

Nestlé has sacked its CEO Laurent Freixe with immediate effect, following an “undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate”. Philipp Navratil takes over the reins.

Breaching Code of Conduct

Freixe was sacked immediately, after an investigation found his behaviour “breached Nestlé’s Code of Business Conduct”. Chairman Paul Bulcke – who himself is set to leave next April – stated: “This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service at Nestlé.”

Navratil has worked for Nestlé since 2001, starting as an internal auditor. He climbed up to become Country Manager for Honduras in 2009 and switched to Nestlé’s Mexican coffee and beverage business four years later. In 2020, he was promoted to the ‘Coffee Strategic Business Unit’ that oversees the global strategy for Nescafé and Starbucks coffee brands, before becoming Nespresso CEO in July 2024.

Freixe had only been appointed as CEO in August 2024, after his predecessor Mark Schneider had left unexpectedly. The Frenchman started working for Nestlé in 1986 and, much like Navratil, spent an important part of his carreer in Latin America.