Nestlé Investors Push for Leadership Change as Chair Paul Bulcke Faces Criticism
Geneva, September 16, 2025 – (Qahwa World) – A group of Nestlé’s major investors is urging long-serving Chair Paul Bulcke to step down before his scheduled retirement in April 2026, citing dissatisfaction with his handling of recent corporate challenges and leadership transitions.
According to reports in the Financial Times, shareholders have grown frustrated with Bulcke’s leadership after the abrupt dismissal of CEO Laurent Freixe, who left the company on September 1, 2025, following an investigation into an inappropriate relationship with an employee. Freixe’s departure marked the third change in Nestlé’s top executive role in just over a year, following Mark Schneider’s resignation in August 2024. Philipp Navratil, formerly head of Nespresso, has now taken over as CEO.
Investors argue that Bulcke, who launched an internal probe earlier this year but failed to substantiate the allegations against Freixe until a second investigation was carried out with external counsel, did not act decisively enough. Some shareholders have called for Pablo Isla, the designated successor, to assume the chairmanship immediately.
“Paul Bulcke has lost the trust of investors,” one shareholder was quoted as saying, stressing that he should leave the position without waiting until next year.
Bulcke’s long tenure with Nestlé dates back to 1979, including eight years as CEO before becoming Chair in 2017. He announced in June 2025 that he would not seek re-election.
The leadership turmoil has weighed heavily on Nestlé’s stock, which fell 5% after Freixe’s dismissal, closing at CHF 71.86 ($90.85) on September 16. Since 2022, the company’s shares have dropped nearly 40% amid two consecutive years of declining sales.
Nestlé has struggled with weaker performance across its dairy, culinary, pet care, infant nutrition, and water divisions. However, its coffee portfolio remains resilient. Nescafé, Nespresso, and the Starbucks ready-to-drink range all recorded strong results, with double-digit growth in the Americas and mid-single-digit gains in Europe during the first half of 2025.
