Nestlé investors are said to be demanding chairman Paul Bulcke step down immediately, following the CEO scandal that rocked the multinational.
According to reports published in the Financial Times, Nestlé’s investors hold Bulcke responsible for the food and beverage giant’s current turmoil, citing poor judgment and handling of investigations into Laurent Freixe’s conduct.
Bulcke is already scheduled to step down as chairman of the board of directors on 16 April 2026, but the latest developments have led investors to call for the move to be brought forward.
“It’s a matter of decency and respect that Bulcke resigns from the position and not wait until April next year,” one top-30 investor told the Financial Times, arguing that he has lost shareholder trust.
Long-term investor J Stern’s Christopher Rossbach has also called for Bulcke to step down, stating chair-designate Pablo Isla should assume leadership right away.
Isla, the former Inditex chief, is already playing an active role in board decisions, the report claimed.
The pressure on Nestlé’s leadership underscores growing investor frustration with the company’s handling of recent controversies and its impact on financial performance.
As calls intensify for a swift transition to Pablo Isla’s leadership, all eyes are on Nestlé’s next move, and whether it will act to restore shareholder confidence before further damage is done.
Nestlé declined request for comment.
