Nestlé has dismissed Chief Executive Officer Mark Schneider after internal investigations confirmed a breach of the company’s code of ethics, marking the third leadership exit in less than a year. The board announced that Laurent Freixe Navratil, previously head of the firm’s Europe, Middle East, and North Africa operations, will step in as acting CEO.
The sudden ouster underscores deepening governance concerns at the world’s largest food and beverage company. Nestlé shares slipped nearly 2% in early Zurich trading as investors reacted to what many see as a worrying pattern of instability at the top. Analysts note that with global inflation squeezing margins and consumer demand shifting, steady leadership is critical.
Nestlé pledged to strengthen its oversight and restore stakeholder confidence, but questions remain over whether the leadership shuffle will be enough to stabilize the company’s long-term direction.
