Nestlé’s Board of Directors has appointed Philipp Navratil as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, following the departure of Laurent Freixe. The decision comes after an internal investigation into Freixe’s undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate, which was found to be in breach of Nestlé’s Code of Business Conduct.
The investigation was overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, with the support of external counsel.
“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 Bulcke.
He added: “I am pleased to announce Philipp Navratil as CEO. Philipp is recognized 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. The Board is confident that he will drive our growth plans forward and accelerate efficiency efforts. We are not changing course on strategy and we will not lose pace on performance.”
Navratil began his career at Nestlé in 2001 as an internal auditor and later held commercial roles in Central America. He became Country Manager for Nestlé Honduras in 2009 and went on to lead the coffee and beverage business in Mexico, strengthening the Nescafé brand. In 2020, he took on leadership of Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, managing global strategy and innovation for Nescafé and Starbucks coffee brands. Most recently, as head of Nespresso from July 2024, he drove growth and built momentum. He joined the Executive Board in January 2025.
“I am honored by the trust the Board has placed in me, and it is a privilege to take on the responsibility of leading Nestlé into the future,” Navratil said.