Dubai, September 2, 2025 – (Qahwa World) – Nestlé has dismissed its Chief Executive Officer Laurent Freixe after nearly four decades at the Swiss food and beverage giant, citing a breach of its Code of Business Conduct. He has been immediately replaced by Philipp Navratil, the Global CEO of Nespresso.
In an official statement, Nestlé said the decision followed an investigation into an undisclosed romantic relationship between Freixe and a staff member, which violated company policy. Freixe, who joined the company in 1986, rose through the ranks to lead its European and Americas segments before heading Latin America in 2022. He was appointed Group CEO in August 2024 following the resignation of Mark Schneider. Freixe has also stepped down from the company’s Executive Board, where he had served since 2008.
“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,” said Chairman Paul Bulcke, who himself will step down next year after 47 years with the group.
Navratil, a seasoned coffee executive, now takes the top job at one of the world’s largest food companies. Over the past 18 months, he has led Nespresso globally and previously held senior roles as Coffee Business Executive Officer for Nestlé Mexico and Head of its Coffee Strategic Business Unit.
“Philipp is recognised for his impressive track record of achieving results in challenging environments. Renowned for his dynamic presence, he inspires teams and leads with a collaborative, inclusive management style,” Bulcke added.
The leadership change comes at a critical moment. Nestlé is grappling with declining sales after reporting a 1.8% revenue drop in 2024 to CHF 91.3bn ($10.1bn), followed by another 1.8% fall in the first half of 2025. Despite the broader downturn, coffee has remained a strong performer. The company reported double-digit sales growth in the Americas and mid-single-digit growth in Europe during the first half of 2025, helped by a 6% average price increase across its retail coffee ranges.
Nestlé’s swift action underscores the company’s strict governance standards, but it also disrupts the stability it was seeking after Freixe’s short-lived tenure. Navratil now faces the challenge of steering the company through weak overall performance while leveraging coffee — one of Nestlé’s strongest categories — to restore momentum.
