Nestlé CEO
Mark Schneider will
step down
after eight years. According to AFP news agency,
Laurent Freixe
, currently head of the
Latin America division
, will take over from 1
September
, the company announced on Thursday.
Schneider, who has led Nestlé since 2017, described his tenure as “an honour” and expressed gratitude for the company’s achievements under his leadership.
“Leading Nestlé for the past 8 years has been an honour for me. I am grateful for what we have achieved, having transformed Nestlé into a future-proofed, innovative and sustainable business,” Schneider said in a statement.
Freixe, who has been with Nestlé since 1986, has held various roles within the company. He previously managed the European zone during the 2008 financial crisis and led the Americas region before taking charge of the newly created Latin America zone in 2022. Nestlé’s statement highlighted Freixe’s successful management through challenging conditions and indicated that he would be proposed as a candidate for the
board of directors
at the 2025 annual general meeting.
Nestlé, known for its extensive portfolio including Nespresso, Purina, and Häagen-Dazs, recently revised its sales growth outlook for 2024. The company has been adjusting its pricing strategies in response to inflation and has faced criticism over its nutritional policies and water extraction practices. Despite controversies, Schneider has focused on reshaping the portfolio, focusing on growth areas such as coffee, pet care, and health products.
Nestlé
chairman Paul Bulcke praised Freixe as “a talented leader with strategic acumen, extensive in-market experience and expertise as well as a deep understanding of markets and consumers.” Bulcke added, “Laurent is the perfect fit for Nestlé at this time.”
