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Investing.com -- Leadership woes continue for Nestle after the Swiss consumer goods giant on Tuesday ousted its chief executive for the second time in a year, removing Laurent Freixe over a romantic relationship with a subordinate.
Shares dropped more than 3% in Zurich after the company said its board had acted on the findings of an internal investigation into the affair, which breached Nestle’s code of business conduct.
Philipp Navratil, a senior executive seen as a rising figure inside the group, has been named as the new CEO.
He takes over as Nestle continues to grapple with weak sales volumes and years of share price underperformance.
JPMorgan analysts said the unexpected leadership change at Nestle is negative for investors.
"It is the second time in twelve months that the Nestle board appoints a CEO in an emergency instead of initiating a thorough search for a replacement under the leadership of an interim CEO," analysts said.
While the board sought to reassure by saying Philipp Navratil would “drive our growth plans forward and accelerate efficiency efforts. We are not changing course on strategy,” the analysts were “disappointed that the new CEO is boxed in for now to follow his predecessor’s strategy at a time where the market is doubting the outcome with Nestlé’s share valuation at a historical low.”
The dismissal marks another setback for investors after three consecutive years of declines between 2022 and 2024 and no sign of a rebound in 2025.
Nestle stock has lost about a third of its value over the past five years, lagging rivals, and fell 17% during Freixe’s brief tenure.
“We expect a negative reaction from the stock but see any pronounced sell off as a buying opportunity given the turnaround plan put in place by the company and Navratil’s commitment to the strategy,” said Kepler Cheuvreux analyst Jon Cox.
Freixe’s departure comes just a year after the removal of his predecessor Mark Schneider and follows chair Paul Bulcke’s announcement that he will step down in 2026, underscoring one of the most unsettled periods in the company’s history.
In a statement, Bulcke thanked Freixe for his long service but said the move was a “necessary decision.”
Freixe, who spent nearly four decades at the company, will not receive an exit package, the company told Reuters.