Nestlé has appointed Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen as Chief Executive Officer of Nespresso and member of the group executive board, effective 1 November 2025, marking another significant leadership change at the Swiss food giant.
Gonzalez Loeschen, currently head of Nespresso North America, succeeds Philipp Navratil, who was elevated earlier this month to Group CEO following the sudden dismissal of Laurent Freixe.
Since taking over as CEO of Nespresso’s North American arm in 2020, Gonzalez Loeschen has driven double-digit growth of the Vertuo coffee system and expanded the brand’s market share across the US, Canada and Mexico. A Nestlé veteran of more than 30 years, he began his career in Mexico in 1992 and has since held senior marketing and general management roles in Puerto Rico, the US and at Nespresso’s global operations.
“His extensive expertise and deep understanding of the portioned coffee category, along with Alfonso's results-focused approach and talent to inspire teams, will enable him to drive performance and execution,” Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil said in a statement.
The move comes at a turbulent time for Nestlé, which has faced weeks of corporate upheaval. On 1 September, the company dismissed then-CEO Laurent Freixe with immediate effect after an internal investigation found he had engaged in an “undisclosed romantic relationship with a direct subordinate.” Navratil, who had been leading Nespresso since 2023, was named Group CEO the same day.
Just two weeks later, on 16 September, longtime chairman Paul Bulcke announced he would step down earlier than planned following investor pressure. Vice-chairman Pablo Isla, former head of Inditex, will assume the chairmanship on 1 October.
The back-to-back exits of Freixe and Bulcke have raised questions about governance at the world’s largest food company. According to the Financial Times, investors had been pushing for Bulcke to resign, criticising his oversight during what they described as a “chaotic period” culminating in Freixe’s ouster.