Nestlé appoints Laurent Freixe as CEO of Nestlé S.A.
The Board of Directors of Nestlé has appointed Laurent Freixe, currently executive vice-president and CEO Zone Latin America (LATAM), as chief executive officer Nestlé S.A., effective September 1. The Board has also nominated Laurent Freixe as a candidate for the Board of Directors at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
Mark Schneider, chief executive officer, has decided to relinquish his roles as CEO and member of the Board of Directors. Over his eight years with the company, he has actively shaped the company’s portfolio, in line with Nestlé’s strategy and with a focus on high-growth categories like coffee, pet care and nutritional health products.
Laurent Freixe joined Nestlé in France in 1986. Since then, he has continuously progressed within the company, assuming various positions of increasing responsibility across different businesses, markets and Zones. He successfully managed Zone Europe during the financial and economic crisis, from 2008 until 2014. He then took over as CEO of Zone Americas, where he accelerated growth. Following the creation of Nestlé’s new Zone structure in 2022, Laurent Freixe was named CEO Zone Latin America, where he has been successfully leading through challenging conditions.
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"The Board of Directors is delighted to announce the appointment of Laurent as the new CEO” said Paul Bulcke, chairman of the Board of Directors. “I have known Laurent for a long time and highly regard him as a talented leader with strategic acumen, extensive in-market experience and expertise as well as a deep understanding of markets and consumers. He has demonstrated his ability to deliver results in challenging market conditions. Laurent's curiosity fuels his passion for innovation and positive change. Laurent is the perfect fit for Nestlé at this time. Under his leadership, Nestlé will further strengthen its position as a dependable, reliable company through consistent and sustainable value creation."
Bulcke continued: "I would also like to express our gratitude to Mark for his significant contributions to Nestlé and for his outstanding, steady leadership in turbulent times. Mark has been instrumental in the great progress we have made on our sustainability agenda. We extend our best wishes to him in all his professional and personal endeavors."
