Who is Philipp Navratil, the new CEO of Nestlé after the ouster of Laurent Freixe?

Nestlé’s Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Philipp Navratil as Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé S.A., effective immediately, following the dismissal of Laurent Freixe.

Freixe’s departure came after an internal probe revealed he was involved in an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate—an act that violated Nestlé’s Code of Business Conduct. The investigation, overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, was supported by independent external counsel.

Also Read: Why was Nestlé CEO Laurent Freixe dismissed?


Chairman Paul Bulcke said the decision was unavoidable: "This was a necessary decision. Nestlé's values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service at Nestlé."

He went on to welcome Navratil: "I am pleased to announce Philipp Navratil as CEO. Philipp is recognized for his impressive track record of achieving results in challenging environments. Renowned for his dynamic presence, he inspires teams and leads with a collaborative, inclusive management style. The Board is confident he will drive our growth plans forward and accelerate efficiency efforts. We are not changing course on strategy, and we will not lose pace on performance."

All about Philipp Navratil

Philipp Navratil began his Nestlé career in 2001 as an internal auditor before moving into various commercial roles across Central America. In 2009, he became Country Manager for Nestlé Honduras, and by 2013, he was leading the coffee and beverage business in Mexico, where he played a crucial role in strengthening the Nescafé brand.

In 2020, Navratil transitioned to Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, where he oversaw global strategy and innovation for both Nescafé and Starbucks coffee brands. In July 2024, he took charge at Nespresso, where he successfully accelerated growth and built strong momentum. He joined the Nestlé Executive Board on January 1, 2025.

Accepting his new role, Navratil said: "I am honored by the trust the Board has placed in me, and it is a privilege to take on the responsibility of leading Nestlé into the future. I fully embrace the company’s strategic direction and action plan to drive performance. I look forward to working closely with the leadership team, the Board, Chairman Paul Bulcke, and Chairman-Designate Pablo Isla to accelerate execution and strengthen Nestlé’s value creation."