Laurent Freixe Appointed CEO of Nestlé as Mark Schneider Steps Down

The Board of Directors of Nestlé has appointed Laurent Freixe, currently the Executive Vice President and CEO of Zone Latin America (LATAM), as the new Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé S.A., effective September 1. Additionally, the Board has nominated Freixe as a candidate for the Board of Directors at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Mark Schneider, the current Chief Executive Officer, has decided to step down from his roles as CEO and as a member of the Board of Directors. Over his 8-year tenure with Nestlé, Schneider has significantly influenced the company's portfolio, aligning it with Nestlé’s strategy and focusing on high-growth categories such as coffee, pet care, and nutritional health products.

Laurent Freixe began his career at Nestlé in France in 1986 and has since advanced through various positions of increasing responsibility across different businesses, markets, and Zones. He successfully led Zone Europe during the financial and economic crisis from 2008 to 2014, and later accelerated growth as CEO of Zone Americas. Following the restructuring of Nestlé’s Zones in 2022, Freixe was appointed CEO of Zone Latin America, where he has effectively navigated challenging conditions.

Freixe has been a member of the Executive Board for 16 years, playing a crucial role in shaping the company's strategic direction and portfolio. With a deep understanding of Nestlé’s culture and values, he has spearheaded global corporate initiatives to enhance productivity, operational efficiency, process simplification, and innovation. Freixe is also dedicated to developing future leaders, evidenced by his involvement in Nestlé’s Leadership and Training Programs and the Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative, which supports youth employment.

Paul Bulcke, Chairman of the Board of Directors, expressed his satisfaction with Freixe's appointment, saying: "The Board of Directors is delighted to announce the appointment of Laurent as the new CEO. 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 also extended his gratitude to Schneider, stating: "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."

Laurent Freixe expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, saying: "I am privileged to have been given the opportunity to continue building and strengthening Nestlé, and I am excited to take on this responsibility. There will always be challenges, but we have unparalleled strengths, such as iconic brands and products, an unmatched global presence, leading innovation and execution capabilities, and above all, exceptional people and teams. We can strategically position Nestlé to lead and win everywhere we operate."

Mark Schneider reflected on his tenure, saying: "Leading Nestlé for the past 8 years has been an honor for me. I am grateful for what we have achieved, having transformed Nestlé into a future-proofed, innovative and sustainable business. I would like to thank the entire Nestlé community for what we have accomplished together and wish Laurent all the best in his new role."

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