Nestlé has appointed a new CEO, it announced on Monday. Philipp Navratil, current CEO of Nespresso, has been appointed to the top job.
The announcement comes after the abrupt departure of Laurent Freixe, who was dismissed following an investigation into an “undisclosed romantic relationship” with a direct subordinate.
“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,” explained chairman Paul Bulke.
Novratil, who replaces Freixe, has a long career with Nestlé. Joining the company in 2001 as an internal auditor, he held various key roles in Central America before heading up the company’s coffee and beverage business in Mexico from 2013. From 2020, he led the global strategy for the company’s Starbucks and Nescafé brands, before rising to lead Nespresso in 2024.
“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,” added Bulke.
“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,” said new CEO Philipp Navratil.
“I fully embrace the company’s strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestlé’s performance. I look forward to working closely with the entire leadership of the company, in alignment with the Board, Chairman Paul Bulcke, and Chairman-Designate Pablo Isla, to accelerate execution and to drive the value creation plan with intensity.”
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