Nestlé, the Swiss food and beverage giant, announced on Sept. 1 that it had immediately dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe. The company said an internal investigation found Freixe had engaged in an “undisclosed romantic relationship” with a direct subordinate in violation of Nestlé’s code of conduct. Philipp Navratil, former head of the Nespresso unit, was swiftly named the new chief executive. A Nestlé statement confirmed the decision: “The departure of Laurent Freixe follows an investigation into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate which breached Nestlé’s Code of Business Conduct”.
The investigation was overseen by Nestlé’s board chairman, Paul Bulcke, and lead independent director Pablo Isla. In a company release, Bulcke said dismissing Freixe “was a necessary decision”, emphasizing that “Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company”. He thanked Freixe for his years of service. Freixe, a Nestlé veteran, had only taken on the CEO role in September 2024 after his predecessor Mark Schneider stepped. In announcing the change, Nestlé stressed that it would maintain its strategic direction under the new leadership.
French-language social media captured the shock of the news. Tweets by French news outlets carried headlines such as:
“Le directeur général de Nestlé, Laurent Freixe, licencié pour une relation amoureuse «avec une subordonnée directe»”
“Une situation qui «enfreignait le code de conduite des affaires de Nestlé», a fait savoir l’entreprise”
“Le géant suisse de l’agro-alimentaire Nestlé a annoncé lundi le licenciement avec effet immédiat de son directeur général Laurent Freixe, pour cause de ‘relation amoureuse non déclarée avec une subordonnée directe’.”
English-language outlets echoed these facts. For example, one report noted: “Nestlé has dismissed its Chief Executive Officer, Laurent Freixe, after an internal investigation revealed he was involved in an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate.”. (Another commentator on X observed wryly: “Workplace romance isn’t leaving the boardroom anytime soon.”)
Philipp Navratil, 58, takes over the CEO post. Navratil is a 24-year Nestlé veteran who most recently ran Nespresso. He was appointed to the Nestlé Executive Board in January 2025 and was already seen as a leading figure in Nestlé’s coffee and beverages business. The board said Navratil will continue Nestlé’s existing strategy and performance goals. Under Navratil, Nestlé aims to press ahead with growth in its key markets and brands.
The affair highlights how companies handle workplace relationships at the highest level. Corporate policies typically require disclosure of any romantic relationship between managers and subordinates to avoid conflicts of interest. Nestlé’s swift action underscores that even the CEO is subject to the same rules. Social media buzzed with commentary, noting that affairs in the boardroom can have serious consequences for leadership. As one user quipped in a tweet, “Workplace romance isn’t leaving the boardroom anytime soon.”