Nestle CEO Laurent Freixe Sacked After Relationship With Subordinate Exposed
Food giant Nestlé has abruptly removed its Chief Executive Officer, Laurent Freixe, following revelations of a romantic relationship with a direct subordinate.
The decision, confirmed on 1 September, marks a dramatic end to Freixe’s short-lived leadership. He took charge of the world’s largest food and beverage group just last year.
Secret relationship triggers dismissal
Concerns were first raised through an internal hotline, prompting an internal review. Initial findings, however, failed to substantiate the claims. Freixe denied the allegations at the time.
It was only after Nestlé turned to an independent external firm that the relationship was verified. The matter was deemed a serious breach of the company’s code of conduct.
NESTLÉ CEO FIRED OVER SECRET ROMANCE
Nestlé has dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe after an internal investigation confirmed he failed to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate, breaching company conduct rules.
Freixe spent 40 years with the group and became CEO in… pic.twitter.com/2PvKJKLkLz
— Business Explainer (@businessXplain) September 2, 2025
The 63-year-old will not receive a golden handshake or any severance pay.
“This was a necessary decision,” explained Chairman Paul Bulcke, who personally oversaw the investigation. Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service.”
Leadership shake-up during turbulent times
Freixe’s departure comes at a difficult moment for the Swiss multinational. Nestlé’s stock value has slipped by 17% in the past 12 months, leaving investors uneasy as competitors outperform.
To stabilise operations, Philipp Navratil, former head of the Nespresso business, has been appointed as the new Nestlé CEO. His challenge: to restore both trust and growth.
The scandal adds to a growing list of boardroom dramas in global business. Earlier this year, Astronomer’s chief executive Andy Byron was ousted after being caught in an affair with his HR chief during a Coldplay concert.
Corporate governance experts say such incidents underline the importance of transparency and trust at the highest levels of leadership.
