Nestlé, the world’s largest consumer goods company, has dismissed its CEO, Laurent Freixe, following revelations of an undisclosed romantic relationship with a subordinate.
According to Reuters, concerns about a possible relationship first surfaced in the spring through the company’s internal reporting channel “Speak Up.” A board-led investigation followed, during which Freixe had denied the relationship.
Staff concerns persisted, prompting another investigation overseen by Chairman Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Isla and independent outside counsel. This time around, investigators found what they believed to be evidence of a romantic relationship with a direct subordinate. Swiss website Inside Paradeplatz reports that Freixe met the unnamed woman in 2022, when he was head of