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Laurent Freixe Nestle CEO Office Romance Scandal:Swiss food giant Nestle has abruptly dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate, the company announced on Monday.
The dramatic move comes exactly a year after Freixe took charge, marking another bout of turbulence for the world’s largest food company. Freixe, 63, succeeded Mark Schneider on September 1, 2024, but will now be replaced by Philipp Navratil, a long-time Nestlé executive who most recently headed the Nespresso coffee division.
Breach of Nestle's code of conduct
Nestle said Freixe’s removal followed an investigation overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which violated the company’s code of business conduct.
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“This was a necessary decision,” Bulcke said in a statement. “Nestle's values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service.”
According to foreign reports, the case first surfaced through Nestle’s whistleblowing channel. An initial inquiry had dismissed the claims as unsubstantiated, but continued complaints prompted a second probe, supported by external counsel, which confirmed the relationship and its conflict of interest.
The identity of the subordinate involved has not been disclosed, though the individual was not part of the executive board.
Netizens react to ousted Nestlé CEO’s affair scandal
The episode has drawn heightened attention because it comes just months after the so-called Coldplay scandal involving then-CEO Andy Byron, who was photographed at a concert with Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot. Byron ultimately resigned after public backlash.
This parallel has fueled a wave of online jokes and commentary around Freixe’s exit.
One Instagram user wrote: “Nestle got Coldplayed.”
Another bluntly remarked: “Conflict of interest.”
On X, one user quipped: “Imagine getting to the top of the mountain and losing it over this stupidity.”
Another joked: “Another Coldplay moment.”
“The whistleblower is DEFINITELY single,” a comment on Instagram read.
While one user coined a new pun: “Nestlayoff.”
English (US) ·