Nestlé fires CEO Laurent Freixe after an internal investigation found he violated company policies by failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a direct subordinate. The decision comes less than a year after Freixe was appointed to the top role.
The company confirmed the leadership change in a statement, saying the investigation, led by Chairman Paul Bulcke and independent director Pablo Isla, found the relationship breached Nestlé’s code of business conduct. External legal counsel also participated in the process.
Bulcke said the dismissal was necessary to uphold Nestlé’s values and governance standards. He thanked Freixe for his 40 years of service, which ended abruptly due to the undisclosed relationship.
Philipp Navratil steps into leadership role
Philipp Navratil has been named Freixe’s successor. The leadership shift does not signal a change in the company’s direction, according to Bulcke. He said Navratil brings strong results and inclusive leadership, and the board is confident he will accelerate growth and improve operational efficiency.
Navratil joined Nestlé in 2001 as an internal auditor. He later held commercial roles across Central America before being named country manager for Nestlé Honduras in 2009. In 2013, he took over the coffee and beverage division in Mexico.
He moved to the company’s global coffee strategy team in 2020 and transitioned to Nespresso in July 2024. Navratil joined the executive board in January 2025.
Past incidents highlight corporate accountability
Nestlé, known for brands such as KitKat, Häagen-Dazs, and Nespresso, had appointed Freixe as CEO in September 2024 following the departure of Mark Schneider. The recent decision reflects a broader trend among global corporations to enforce stricter internal conduct policies.
The case mirrors a 2023 incident involving oil company BP. Then-CEO Bernard Looney resigned after it was revealed he had not disclosed past relationships with colleagues. BP’s board later terminated his contract for serious misconduct, citing that he misled fellow directors during the inquiry. As a result, Looney forfeited more than $42.7 million in pay and shares.
Corporate ethics under the spotlight
Following that incident, BP introduced a mandatory disclosure policy for intimate relationships among staff. Nestlé has not announced any changes to its internal policies at this time.
The leadership shake-up at Nestlé highlights increasing scrutiny over executive behavior and growing corporate emphasis on transparency and ethics. As Nestlé fires CEO Laurent Freixe, the company aims to move forward without compromising its code of conduct or business priorities.
