Swiss food giant Nestlé said Monday that it rejected CEO Laurent Freixe after investigating its private relationship with its subordinates in person.
The manufacturer of Nescafe Drinks and Purina pet food said in a statement that the fire came into effect immediately. The investigation found private, romantic relationships in which direct subordinates violated Nestlé’s code of conduct.
“This was a necessary decision,” Chairman Paul Brucke said. “Nestlé’s values and governance are our strong foundation.”
The company did not provide any other details regarding the investigation.
Freixe has been with Nestlé since 1986 and has played roles all over the world. When Nestlé revamped its geographical structure in January 2022, Freixe became CEO of Zone Latin America.
In August 2024, he was tapped to replace then-Mark Schneider with the top role and launched on September 1, 2024.
Navratil began his career at Nestlé in 2001 as an internal auditor, where he played a variety of roles in Central America.
In 2020, he joined Nestlé’s Coffee Strategy Business Unit and in 2024 he became CEO of Nestlé’s Nespresso division.
This is the latest in a series of personnel changes for the company. In June, Bulcke, a former CEO who has been chairing the board since 2017, said he would not support reelection in 2026.
And in April, Steve Presley, executive vice president and CEO of Zone Americas, said he left after almost 30 years of service.
Nestlé is based in Vevey, Switzerland, and faces headwinds like other food manufacturers, including rising product costs and negative tariff effects. In July, he said that rising prices offset higher coffee and cocoa-related costs.