Nestlé, the Swiss multinational behind Nespresso and KitKat, has sacked its chief executive, Laurent Freixe, with immediate effect after an internal probe found he had engaged in an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate.
The company announced the decision on Monday, stating that the relationship breached its code of business conduct. Following the dismissal, Nespresso CEO Philipp Navratil was swiftly appointed to take over as chief executive.
Nestlé’s board explained that the investigation was overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla, with support from external counsel.
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“This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service,” Bulcke said.
Freixe, who joined Nestlé in France in 1986, previously led its European operations through the 2008 financial and euro crises before moving on to head the Latin American division. He became CEO in September 2024, tasked with reviving consumer spending on the company’s food and household goods.
