Chicago – September 02, 2025
Nestle has fired its CEO Laurent Freixe after just one year in the job after an investigation into an undisclosed “romantic relationship”, ousting its second CEO in a year and throwing the Swiss food giant into the deepest leadership chaos in decades.
Freixe is replaced by Nespresso chief Philipp Navratil, a rising star at the world’s biggest packaged food company, which has seen slowing sales in its main businesses since the pandemic.
Shares (NESN.S), opens new tab in the maker of Nescafe coffee and KitKat chocolate bars were down 1% following Freixe’s sudden dismissal, which comes a year after the predecessor Mark Schneider was axed for underperformance.
The dismissal of Freixe follows an investigation into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate which breached Nestle’s code of business conduct, Nestle said late on Monday.
The company said concerns about a possible relationship were raised by staff via internal company hotline, although an initial investigation was unsubstantiated. Freixe had initially denied the relationship to the board, a company spokesperson said.
When staff concerns persisted, Nestle said it ordered an investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director, Pablo Isla, with the support of independent outside counsel. Swiss media reported that Swiss lawyers Baer & Karrer helped with the inquiry.
Freixe, who spent 39 years with Nestle, will receive no exit package following his departure, the company told.
