New Nestlé Boss Plots Strategic Overhaul To Reignite Growth

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Nestlé's new chief executive is planning a strategic overhaul that will refocus the sprawling multinational around four product categories, as it faces pressure to boost growth after a period of turmoil. Select your language

Generated with artificial intelligence. Listening: New Nestlé boss plots strategic overhaul to reignite growth This content was published on February 4, 2026 - 09:02 3 minutes Madeleine Speed in London and Mercedes Ruehl in Zurich, Financial Times

Philipp Navratil, appointed after the firing of former boss Laurent Freixe, is preparing to organise the KitKat and Nespresso maker around new“pillars” - coffee; petcare; nutrition and health; and food and snacking - people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times.

The move is the latest significant step by Navratil since taking over in September from Freixe, who was removed over an undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct report.

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The new boss, who is under pressure to slim down the company and revive sales growth after a slump from post-Covid highs, has already launched a restructuring programme that will slash 16,000 jobs over the next 18 months.

+ Read about a management meltdown at Nestlé

The four new product groupings, or“pillars”, could lay the groundwork for a formal reorganisation at the group, which has a market capitalisation of SFr196bn, the people said.

Navratil hopes the strategy will create more co-operation across Nestlé's complex structure. This should help teams adapt more quickly to changing consumer trends with new product innovations, according to the people.

Nestlé is currently organised by region - Americas; Europe and Asia; Oceania and Africa - and into six categories, which are known at Nestlé as“strategic business units”.

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