Nestle has dismissed Chief Executive Officer Laurent Freixe after only a year due to an undisclosed workplace affair, extending the management turmoil at the world’s biggest food company that’s known for its conservative corporate culture.
An investigation showed that Freixe had an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate that violated Nestle’s code of conduct, according to a release late Monday from the Swiss owner of Purina pet supplies and KitKat chocolate bars. It named Philipp Navratil, who heads the Nespresso coffee brand, as his replacement.
"This was a necessary decision,” Chairman Paul Bulcke said in the statement. "Nestlé’s values and governance are strong foundations of our company. I thank Laurent for his years of service.”
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