Philipp Navratil: From Auditor to CEO of Nestlé

Navratil started his journey with Nestlé in 2001 as an International Auditor and Audit Team Leader based in Vevey, Switzerland. Over nearly four years, he led audit assignments across multiple geographies, including Mexico, Italy, Russia, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Spain, Japan, and China, gaining exposure to organizational, financial and operational areas as well as M&A. He also conducted audits of head offices, factories and distribution centers in Germany, India, Italy, Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia, honing his expertise in cross-border operations.

In 2005, Navratil moved to Panama to take on commercial roles in key account and product management. Here, he drove regional marketing for brands such as Nido, Klim and Anchor, achieving annual sales of over USD 210 million (2008) and notable growth in market share and brand loyalty. He also led the turnaround of Super 99, Panama’s largest supermarket chain, delivering more than 20% sales growth after years of decline, while managing a team of salesmen and merchandisers.

By 2009, he was appointed Country Manager for Nestlé Honduras, where he managed full P&L responsibility for operations with annual sales exceeding USD 80 million and a workforce of more than 300 employees. Under his leadership, the business achieved sustained top- and bottom-line growth, strengthened market share across categories, and implemented new distribution and efficiency models.

In 2013, Navratil relocated to Mexico as Business Executive Officer (Vice President) for Coffee & Beverages, leading for seven years. His tenure saw significant progress in strengthening the Nescafé brand across one of Nestlé’s most important markets.

From 2020 to mid-2024, he was Senior Vice President and Head of the Coffee Strategic Business Unit, responsible for shaping global strategy and innovation for Nescafé and Starbucks coffee brands. He then took over as CEO of Nespresso in July 2024, where he accelerated growth and built strong momentum for the premium coffee business.

Navratil joined the Nestlé Executive Board on January 1, 2025, before being elevated to CEO of Nestlé S.A. later that year.

A graduate of the University of St. Gallen with a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Philipp Navratil is known for his dynamic leadership, collaborative management style, and ability to deliver results in challenging markets. His career reflects deep operational experience across Latin America, Europe, and Asia, combined with global strategic leadership in Nestlé’s flagship coffee businesses.