Swiss meals big Nestlé mentioned Monday it dismissed its CEO, Laurent Freixe, on account of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.
The maker of Nescafé drinks and Purina pet meals mentioned in a press release that the dismissal was efficient instantly. An investigation discovered the undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate violated Nestlé’s code of conduct.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP by way of Getty Photos
The direct subordinate was not recognized.
Freixe had been CEO for a 12 months, in keeping with the corporate. He first joined Nestlé in France in 1986, working in advertising and marketing and gross sales. He later grew to become the top of the Vitamin Division of Nestlé France in 1999. Freixe continued to work his means up the company ladder, changing into regional CEO of Nestlé earlier than lastly being appointed the highest place final September.
He will probably be changed as CEO by Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé govt.
“This was a obligatory determination,” mentioned Chairman Paul Bulcke. “Nestlé’s values and governance are sturdy foundations of our firm.”
Navratil began his profession with Nestlé in 2001 as an inside auditor and served in a wide range of roles in Central America. In 2020, he joined Nestlé’s Espresso Strategic Enterprise Unit, and in 2024, he grew to become CEO of Nestlé’s Nespresso division.
