Nestlé has abruptly fired its chief executive, Laurent Freixe, after an internal investigation found he had failed to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate — a breach of the company’s code of conduct.
The Swiss-based food giant announced Philipp Navratil as his replacement, describing him as a dynamic and inclusive leader who has delivered results in tough markets.
Freixe’s departure comes less than a year after he was promoted to the top job. He had spent 40 years at Nestlé, whose household brands include KitKat, Nespresso and Häagen-Dazs.
The probe into his conduct was overseen by Nestlé chair Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla, with help from outside counsel. Bulcke called the dismissal “a necessary decision,” adding: “Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service.”
Navratil, who joined Nestlé as an internal auditor in 2001, has worked across Central America, Mexico, and in the company’s coffee division. He took charge at Nespresso last year and joined the executive board in January. The board said it was confident he would keep Nestlé’s growth plans on track.
The episode echoes recent scandals at other global corporations. In 2023, BP chief executive Bernard Looney was forced to resign after concealing past relationships with colleagues. He was later dismissed for serious misconduct and stripped of more than £32m in pay and bonuses. BP has since introduced rules requiring staff to disclose workplace relationships or risk losing their jobs.