Nestlé, the Swiss multinational food and beverage giant, has announced the immediate dismissal of its CEO, Laurent Freixe, following a breach of the company’s Code of Business Conduct. The decision was taken after an internal investigation revealed an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate.
On September 1, 2025, Nestlé confirmed that its Board had removed Laurent Freixe due to a serious non-compliance matter. The internal probe, supervised by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, and supported by external legal counsel, found evidence of Freixe’s involvement in a romantic relationship with a subordinate without disclosure. This went against corporate ethics laid out in the company’s code.
Nestlé wasted no time and appointed Philipp Navratil as the new CEO of Nestlé S.A. Navratil, who has previously led key business strategies within the organisation, steps in amidst a sensitive leadership transition. Paul Bulcke stated that the measure was essential to uphold the company's strong governance foundation and values.
Laurent Freixe had joined Nestlé in France in 1986. Over nearly 4 decades, he held several senior roles across divisions. He was the CEO of Hungary in 2003, and later headed the Iberian Region in 2007. In 2008, he rose to Nestlé’s Executive Board, becoming CEO of Zone Americas in 2014, and then leading the Latin America Zone from 2022.
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Freixe was lauded for initiatives like “Nestlé Needs YOUth”, aimed at improving employment opportunities for people under 30. Started in 2013, the programme has helped shape career paths for millions and aims to support 10,000,000 young people globally by 2030. His departure marks a controversial end to a long career marked by innovation and leadership.
On September 2, 2025, Nestlé India share price opened at ₹1,174.40 on NSE, near the previous close of ₹1,174.40. During the day, it surged to ₹1,202.00 and dipped to ₹1,172.40. The stock is trading at ₹1,197.00 as of 1:32 PM. The stock registered a moderate gain of 1.92%.
Over the past week, it has moved up by 2.99%, over the past month, it has moved up by 5.12%, and over the past 3 months, it has moved up by 0.33%.
The removal of Laurent Freixe underscores Nestlé’s strict commitment to ethical governance. With Philipp Navratil stepping up, the company aims to stay focused on its core principles and global leadership objectives.
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Published on: Sep 2, 2025, 3:07 PM IST
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