Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland, September 2025 – Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, has appointed Philipp Navratil as its new Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of former CEO Laurent Freixe. The leadership transition comes amid an internal investigation that led to Freixe’s dismissal due to an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate—an incident that violated company policies on transparency and professional conduct.
Philipp Navratil assumes the CEO role with a rich and seasoned history at Nestlé, having served in key leadership capacities across multiple global markets. He had most recently been serving as CEO of Nestlé Nespresso SA since July 2024 and was also inducted into Nestlé’s Executive Board in January 2025. These roles placed him at the forefront of innovation, strategic transformation, and global expansion for the company’s coffee portfolio.
Prior to that, Philipp was Senior Vice President – Head of the Coffee Strategic Business Unit from January 2020 to June 2024. In this role, he played a pivotal role in reshaping Nestlé’s global coffee strategy and enhancing the sustainability and reach of its brands across international markets.
From 2013 to 2020, he served as Business Executive Officer (Vice President), Coffee & Beverages for Nestlé in Mexico City. Under his leadership, the region experienced robust growth in both market share and profitability, with a particular emphasis on consumer-centric innovation and efficient distribution.
Earlier, Philipp held the role of Country Manager in Honduras between May 2009 and January 2013. He successfully led the operation to consistent top- and bottom-line growth by revamping distribution models, enhancing in-store execution, and implementing strong efficiency initiatives across the board.
With over two decades at Nestlé, Philipp brings deep institutional knowledge, global experience, and a proven track record of driving growth and transformation. His appointment is expected to bring stability and renewed focus as the company navigates this leadership transition.
About Nestlé
Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company, committed to unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come. Founded in 1866 and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé operates in almost every country globally and employs around 273,000 people. With a vast portfolio that covers nearly every food and beverage category, Nestlé remains focused on innovation, sustainability, and delivering products and services for all stages of life.
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