Nestlé’s CEO has been dismissed from his role following claims of misconduct.
Laurent Freixe, 63, had been at the world’s largest food conglomerate for almost 40 years, serving as CEO from 2024 until his termination.
His dismissal was based upon claims that he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a ‘direct subordinate’ and allegedly accelerated her career.
The terminated contract was worth a reported 10 million Swiss francs (£9.3 million).
Freixe is married and denied having an affair when the subject was broached by Nestlé’s board of directors. The claims came via the conglomerate’s internal whistleblowing processes, and continued rumours resulted in an enquiry led by an external party.
Investigators reportedly confirmed that Freixe was in the relationship with the subordinate who herself reportedly left the company in early July 2025 as scrutiny intensified.
The woman, a 45-year-old Turkish national per Blick, the Swiss newspaper, had been with the company for 20 years. She was reportedly hired as a management trainee, and by 2022 was working at Nestlé’s headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland.
It is believed she met Freixe there, and her career allegedly ‘progressed rapidly’ according to Blick.
In 2022, Freixe was CEO of Nestlé’s Latin America division, with his alleged extramarital partner having been promoted to regional marketing vice-president after having met him. It isn’t clear when the affair began or if it preceded the promotion, with the relationship first being reported on 27 July by Inside Paradeplatz.
Freixe’s leadership of the Latin American division was reportedly criticised by his equivalent number from the US division, with his mistress allegedly having been present at that meeting and later reporting the comments to Freixe.
Freixe’s wife, Agata Freixe, is marketing executive based in Switzerland. She met Freixe whilst working at Nestlé, but left the group after their affair became public. The former CEO was married to his first wife when he met Agata, and had two children from that first marriage.
“The departure of Laurent Freixe follows an investigation into an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate which breached Nestlé’s code of business conduct,” said Nestlé in a press statement.
“In line with best practice corporate governance, the board ordered an investigation overseen by chairman Paul Bulcke and lead independent director Pablo Isla, with the support of independent outside counsel.”
Bulcke added: “This was a necessary decision. Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service.”
FOODBible has approached Nestlé for comment.
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Rachael Davis