Nestlé names Philipp Navratil CEO after Freixe’s departure

Nestlé has made a swift leadership change, appointing Philipp Navratil as CEO after the exit of Laurent Freixe, who stepped down following a code of conduct investigation. Navratil, a long-time Nestlé executive with deep experience in coffee and beverages, including Nescafé, Starbucks and Nespresso, joined the company’s executive board earlier this year and now takes the helm of the global food and beverage giant.

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Nestlé Professional

Sept. 2, 2025

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Just a year after taking the helm Nestlé as CEO, Laurent Freixe is out. Philipp Navratil has been appointed as CEO of Nestlé S.A.

Laurent Freixe’s exit comes after Nestlé investigated a previously undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct report, which violated the company’s Code of Business Conduct. The inquiry was initiated by the board of directors and led by Chairman Paul Bulcke.

Laurent Freixe succeeded Mark Schneider on September 1, 2024, as Schneider relinquished his role as CEO and member of the board of directors after an eight-year stint in that role.

Philipp Navratil joined Nestlé in 2001 as an internal auditor before moving into commercial positions across Central America. In 2013, he took charge of the coffee and beverage category in Mexico, where he advanced the Nescafé brand. In 2020, he moved into Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit to guide global strategy and innovation for both Nescafé and Starbucks coffee. He stepped into a leadership role at Nespresso in July 2024.

Navratil was appointed to the Nestlé executive board effective January 1, 2025.