Nestlé Names Philipp Navratil CEO as Laurent Freixe Dismissed
Nestlé has announced a new top leader as Laurent Freixe departs the company.
Philipp Navratil has been promoted to CEO after spending more than three decades with Nestlé.
Chairman Paul Bulcke said in a statement that Navratil was hired for his impressive track record of achieving results in challenging environments through a collaborative, inclusive management style and a dynamic presence that inspires teams.
"The board is confident that he will drive our growth plans forward and accelerate efficiency efforts," added Bulcke. "We are not changing course on strategy and we will not lose pace on performance."
More about Nestlé: The company is fueling growth with AI procurement and consumer feedback
The leadership transition comes after Freixe's immediate dismissal due to an undisclosed romantic relationship that breached the company's code of conduct.
More About Navratil
Navratil was most recently CEO of the company's Nespresso business. Prior to that, he held a variety of senior leadership roles across its coffee segment, including SVP and head of coffee and VP of coffee and beverages for Honduras, according to LinkedIn.
He began his career with the company in 2001 as an internal auditor, climbing ranks until he was responsible for shaping the global strategy and driving innovation for the Nescafé and Starbucks coffee brands.
At the beginning of the year, Navratil joined Nestlé's executive board.
