On September 1, 2025, Nestlé announced Philipp Navratil as the new CEO of the Swiss multinational food and drink processing company, following the departure of Laurent Freixe.The press release mentioned that Freixe was dismissed as the CEO with immediate effect owing to an "undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate," which is against Nestlé's Code of Business Conduct. The food and drink processing company's chairman, Paul Bulcke, dubbed Freixe's firing as a "necessary decision", adding:"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."According to the press release, Navratil began his career with Nestlé as an internal auditor in 2001. During his four years in this role, Navratil carried out audit assignments across Mexico, Japan, Honduras, and more. He also audited factories and distribution centers in India, Colombia, Mexico, and Germany, gaining experience in cross-border operations.Philipp's LinkedIn post (Image via LinkedIn/ @Philipp Navratil)In 2005, Philipp Navratil moved to Panama, undertaking roles in product management and key accounts, where he achieved annual sales of more than $210 million for brands like Anchor, Nido, and Klim, via regional marketing. Additionally, Navratil led the turnaround of Panama's biggest supermarket chain, Super 99, by delivering over 20% sales growth after the brand's decline.More details about Philipp Navratil's career trajectory explored amid his latest position as Nestlé CEOPhilipp Navratil is an MBA, Finance and Capital Markets graduate from the University of St. Gallen. The Nestlé CEO pursued his MBA from 1996 to 2001, wherein he spent a year in India as an exchange student at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore from 1999 to 2000.Following his stint in product management and key accounts in Panama, Philipp Navratil was appointed as Nestlé Honduras' Country Manager in 2009. This was followed by Navratil strengthening the brand's identity in 2013 by assuming leadership of the beverage and coffee business in Mexico. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostNavratil acquired a position in the food and drink processing company's Coffee Strategic Business Unit in 2020, where his responsibilities included driving innovation for Starbucks and Nescafé, as well as developing global strategy. Furthermore, Philipp Navratil became the CEO at Nespresso in July 2024 and joined Nestlé's executive board on January 1, 2025.Commenting on his promotion to CEO of Nestlé, Phillip Navratil mentioned that he was honored by the trust the Board placed in him, dubbing the opportunity a "privilege" that will allow him to lead the brand in the future."I fully embrace the company's strategic direction, as well as the action plan in place to drive Nestlé's performance. I look forward to working closely with the entire leadership of the company, in alignment with the Board, Chairman Paul Bulcke, and Chairman-Designate Pablo Isla, to accelerate execution and to drive the value creation plan with intensity." Philipp addedNestlé’s executive board page mentions that Navratil has a dynamic presence that inspires teams, describing his management style as "inclusive." The food and beverage processing company added that the newly appointed CEO strives to enhance the quality of life via the power of food with Nestlé’s brands.