In a dramatic corporate shake-up, global food and beverage titan Nestlé has terminated one of its most senior executives, Laurent Freixe. The sudden dismissal follows a confirmed breach of the company's strict code of conduct.
Mr. Freixe, a 35-year veteran of the Swiss multinational, was serving as the Chief Executive Officer for Zone Latin America and held a prestigious seat on the company's executive board. His departure was announced internally and confirmed by a Nestlé spokesperson.
The company stated: "We can confirm that Laurent Freixe is no longer with Nestlé. This follows a breach of our code of conduct. We expect all our employees to uphold the highest standards of behaviour.”
The specifics of the misconduct have not been publicly disclosed, but the breach was deemed severe enough to warrant immediate dismissal. This move underscores Nestlé's hardline stance on corporate governance and ethical compliance amongst its top-tier leadership.
Freixe's exit creates a significant vacuum at the helm of Nestlé's Latin American operations, a critical market for the company. The search for his permanent successor is underway. In the interim, his responsibilities will be managed by the current Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé S.A., Mark Schneider.
This incident sends a powerful message that no individual, regardless of their tenure or seniority, is exempt from the foundational rules and ethical principles that govern the world's largest food and drink corporation.
