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Laurent Freixe (born 21 April 1962) is a French business executive. He was the CEO of Nestlé from 2024 until September 2025, when he was dismissed because of an undisclosed romantic relationship with a colleague.
Early Life and Education
Laurent Freixe was born on 21 April 1962 in Paris, France. His parents were electrical engineers. He studied business at EDHEC Business School in Lille, where he completed an MBA in marketing in 1985. As a teenager, he was also a talented handball player and won a French championship at the age of sixteen.
Career at Nestlé
Laurent Freixe joined Nestlé in 1986, starting in sales and marketing. He later worked in market research and became a brand manager in the Dairy and Nutrition division. One of his early successes was launching “Croustibat,” a new fish sticks brand that competed strongly in the French market. He also helped turn around the company’s struggling snack division by making it more efficient.
In 1999, at the age of 37, Laurent Freixe became head of the Dairy and Nutrition Division in France. He later worked in Hungary, and then in Spain and Portugal, before being promoted in 2008 as head of Nestlé’s European business. During this time, he helped grow the Nescafé Dolce Gusto brand into a billion-euro business. Laurent Freixe leadership style was based on what he called a “virtuous circle,” meaning he focused on cutting costs to invest in new products rather than just improving profits.
In 2014, Laurent Freixe became CEO of the Americas, leading operations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In 2022, he moved to lead the Latin America division.
On 1 September 2024, Laurent Freixe replaced Ulf Mark Schneider as CEO of Nestlé. As CEO, he reversed some restructuring plans, spent more on advertising, and restarted Nestlé’s “60/40 rule,” which required new products to be preferred by at least 60% of consumers in blind tests.
However, Laurent Freixe career as CEO ended on 1 September 2025, when he was dismissed due to a romantic relationship with a subordinate. Philipp Navratil was named as his replacement.
Other Roles
>>Board Member at Cereal Partners Worldwide and Consumer Goods Forum
>>Chair of the Global Alliance for YOUth
>>Member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
>>Advisory Board Member for EDHEC Business School
>>Member of the European Roundtable (ERT) and IMD Foundation Board
Personal Information
• Date of Birth: 21 April 1962
• Place of Birth: Paris, France
• Nationality: French
• Languages: French, English, Spanish, German
Parents
Laurent Freixe was born in Paris in April 1962. According to his Wikipedia profile, both of his parents worked as electrical engineers. No other verified public details about their names or careers are available.
Siblings
There is no reliable public information about Laurent Freixe having brothers or sisters. Major sources and his official bios do not mention siblings.
Wife
There are no verified public records naming a spouse for Laurent Freixe in his official bios or major news coverage. Media reports about his dismissal also do not identify a spouse.
Relationship
Nestlé dismissed Laurent Freixe on September 1, 2025, after an internal investigation found he had an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate, which broke the company’s code of conduct. Philipp Navratil was named the new CEO.
Children
No trustworthy source confirms whether he has children. Neither his official CV nor major news outlets provide this information.
Nationality
Laurent Freixe is French. His official Nestlé CV lists his nationality as French and notes he was born in Paris.
Ethnicity
Laurent Freixe ethnicity is not stated in reliable public sources. Official bios and news reports do not provide this detail.
FAQs about Laurent Freixe
1. What is Laurent Freixe real name?
- His real name is Laurent Freixe.
2. How old is Laurent Freixe?
- Laurent Freixe was born on 21 April 1962, which makes him 63 years old (as of 2025).
3. What is Laurent Freixe career background?
- Laurent Freixe worked at Nestlé for nearly 40 years. He started in sales and marketing in 1986, rose through different management roles in France, Hungary, Spain, Portugal, and Europe, later became CEO of the Americas, and finally served as CEO of Nestlé from 2024 to 2025.
4. Where did Laurent Freixe study?
- Laurent Freixe studied at EDHEC Business School in Lille, France, where he earned an MBA in marketing. He also completed an executive program at IMD in Switzerland.
5. Who are Laurent Freixe parents?
- Laurent Freixe parents were electrical engineers. Their names and further details are not publicly available.
6. How tall is Laurent Freixe?
- Based on photos, Laurent Freixe’s is likely around 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet (178 cm) tall.
7. Does Laurent Freixe have siblings?
- There is no public information about whether Laurent Freixe has brothers or sisters.
8. Is Laurent Freixe married?
- No confirmed details are available about Laurent Freixe wife. His official bios and news reports do not mention a spouse.
9. What relationship led to Laurent Freixe dismissal from Nestlé?
- Laurent Freixe was dismissed in September 2025 after it was revealed he had an undisclosed romantic relationship with a subordinate, which violated Nestlé’s code of conduct.
10. Does Laurent Freixe have children?
- There is no reliable information confirming whether Laurent Freixe has children.
11. What is Laurent Freixe nationality?
- Laurent Freixe is French and was born in Paris.
12. What is Laurent Freixe net worth?
- Laurent Freixe exact net worth is not public. However, as a long-time Nestlé executive and former CEO, his wealth is likely in the range of $15 million (estimated) from salaries, bonuses, and benefits.
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