Who is Nestlé CEO Laurent Freixe, fired over ‘romantic relationship’ with his employee?

In a move that surprised many, global food and beverage giant Nestlé has abruptly dismissed its CEO, Laurent Freixe, after just one year in charge.

According to the Swiss food giant, an internal investigation found that the 63-year-old violated Nestlé’s code of conduct by engaging in an “undisclosed romantic relationship” with a direct subordinate.

Following his dismissal, Nestlé has named Philipp Navratil, a long-time company veteran and most recently head of Nespresso, as the new CEO.

Here’s a closer look at who these men are and why the change is significant.

Who is Laurent Freixe?

Laurent Freixe is no stranger to Nestlé. The Paris-born executive has spent nearly four decades climbing the company’s ladder, taking on senior roles across Europe and the Americas before stepping into the top job in September 2024. He succeeded Mark Schneider, who left the CEO position under ambiguous circumstances.

Educated at the prestigious Ecole de Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord in Lille, and later trained at Switzerland’s IMD Program for Executive Development, Freixe built a solid foundation for his corporate career. He joined Nestlé France in 1986, starting out in marketing and sales, before becoming Head of the Nutrition Division in 1999.

His leadership journey took him from CEO of Nestlé Hungary in 2003 to CEO of the Iberian Region in 2007. A year later, he entered Nestlé’s Executive Board as Executive Vice President for Zone Europe, later taking charge of the company’s biggest market, Zone Americas, in 2014. By 2022, after Nestlé’s geographic reshuffle, he was running Zone Latin America.

Nestlé described him as a “natural leader” when he was appointed CEO last year.

“Throughout his time at the company, he has been fundamental in driving innovation and leading performance across Nestlé’s value chain to help enable healthier lives and contribute to the communities in which the Group operates,” the company said then.

One of his signature projects was the Nestlé Needs YOUth programme, launched in 2013. The initiative, which continues today, aims to offer young people under 30 career opportunities and skills training, with the ambitious goal of reaching 10 million youths worldwide by 2030.

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The scandal that ended it all

Laurent Freixe’s tenure as Nestlé CEO came to an abrupt end after he was found to be in a relationship with a direct subordinate, a breach of the company’s strict code of business conduct.

Nestlé chair Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla oversaw the investigation that sealed his fate. “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,” Bulcke said in a statement.

The $238.6 billion food giant, behind brands such as KitKat and Nescafé, had first launched an internal probe in late spring after multiple complaints were filed through its “Speak Up” system. Employees raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest and favouritism, the Financial Times reported.

Initially, the company said an internal investigation had found the claims “unsubstantiated.” But after complaints persisted, the board appointed external counsel for a deeper review. This second probe substantiated the allegations, ultimately leading to Freixe’s resignation after just a year at the helm.

His exit compounds what has already been a turbulent year for Nestlé. In July, French authorities raided its offices over alleged unauthorised filtration methods in bottled mineral water. Earlier in the year, the company was also forced to recall frozen meals in the US due to contamination concerns, all while struggling with slowing sales across its core businesses.

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Who is Philipp Navratil, the new Nestlé CEO?

Philipp Navratil has officially stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer at Nestlé, effective immediately.

A company veteran, Navratil first joined Nestlé back in 2001. Over the years, he has taken on leadership roles across Central America and Mexico, including a seven-year stint leading the coffee and beverage division in Mexico from 2013 to 2020.

More recently, he oversaw global strategy and innovation for Nestlé’s flagship coffee brands, Nescafé and Starbucks. In July 2024, he was appointed CEO of Nespresso, before joining Nestlé’s executive board in January 2025.

In a short statement following his appointment, Navratil said, “I fully embrace the company’s strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestlé’s performance.” He also pledged to “drive the value creation plan with intensity.”

With input from agencies

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