Nestlé names Philipp Navratil CEO after Freixe exit

Nestlé’s board has appointed Philipp Navratil as CEO after the immediate departure of Laurent Freixe, who was found to have breached the company’s code of business conduct.

The board ordered an investigation into an undisclosed relationship between Freixe and a direct subordinate, overseen by chairman Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla, with support from external counsel.

Bulcke says the decision reflects the company’s commitment to “strong values and governance,” thanking Freixe for his years of service. He adds that Navratil brings “an impressive track record of achieving results in challenging environments” and will maintain strategic direction while accelerating growth and efficiency.

Navratil joined Nestlé in 2001 as an internal auditor and has held commercial leadership roles across Central America, Mexico, and the global coffee unit. He became CEO of Nespresso in 2024 and joined the Nestlé executive board earlier this year.

“I am honored by the trust the board has placed in me,” Navratil says, adding that he will work closely with leadership to execute the company’s performance plan and drive value creation.