Results Announced from Nestlé’s Annual General Meeting
Nestlé S.A., Announced the world’s largest food and beverage company, convened its 158th Annual General Meeting (AGM) today at the prestigious SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The event brought together shareholders, board members, and executives to review the company’s performance, vote on governance matters, and discuss the strategic direction for the upcoming year.
A total of 986 shareholders or their appointed proxies were present at the meeting, collectively representing 58.5 percent of Nestlé’s total capital. Impressively, these attendees accounted for 80.3 percent of the company’s shares that carry voting rights. This strong level of participation demonstrates the continued confidence that investors hold in Nestlé’s leadership and long-term vision.
Notably, the Independent Representative, an official body authorized to vote on behalf of shareholders who cannot attend in person, represented a staggering 99.4 percent of the shares that were present or represented at the AGM. This high rate of representation ensures that shareholder voices are heard, even in their absence, and adds legitimacy to the decisions taken at the meeting.
During the AGM, shareholders expressed overwhelming support for all proposals presented by the Board of Directors. One of the key highlights was the election of Laurent Freixe, Nestlé’s current CEO, to the company’s Board of Directors. Freixe’s appointment reflects Nestlé’s continued focus on aligning executive leadership with board-level governance and strategic oversight.
In addition to Freixe’s election, the entire existing Board of Directors, including Chairman Paul Bulcke, was re-elected to serve another term until the next Annual General Meeting. This continuity in governance provides stability and a consistent strategic direction for Nestlé as it continues to adapt to global economic trends and industry shifts.
The AGM also included the re-election of members to the Compensation Committee for a one-year term. These appointments are critical to ensuring that executive compensation aligns with performance metrics and shareholder interests.
Pablo Isla, former Chairman and CEO of Inditext and a prominent voice in international corporate governance, will continue his dual role as Lead Independent Director and Vice Chairman of the Board. Isla will also retain his position as Chair of the Board’s Nomination Committee, overseeing the evaluation and selection of future board members.
Other committee leadership positions also remain unchanged. Dick Boer will continue to chair the Compensation Committee, ensuring executive rewards remain transparent and performance-driven. Hanne Jimenez de Mora and Renato Fassbind will maintain their roles as chairs of the Sustainability and Audit Committees, respectively. Their continued leadership helps preserve oversight in two of the most critical areas for modern corporate governance—environmental impact and financial integrity.
A number of critical financial decisions were put before shareholders, all of which were approved. Nestlé’s annual review and consolidated financial statements for the year were accepted, affirming the company’s solid financial standing. Shareholders also approved a dividend payment of CHF 3.05 per share, which reflects an increase of 5 centimes from the previous year. This marks the 29th consecutive annual increase in Nestlé’s dividend, a track record that underlines the company’s commitment to delivering consistent value to its investors.
Moreover, the AGM approved a proposed capital reduction, which typically involves the cancellation of shares, potentially enhancing the value of remaining shares. Such actions reflect Nestlé’s active capital management strategy and its intent to return value to shareholders while maintaining a strong balance sheet.
In alignment with growing global emphasis on corporate sustainability and responsible business practices, shareholders also voted to approve Nestlé’s Non-Financial Statement for 2024. This document outlines the company’s performance in areas such as environmental responsibility, social impact, and corporate governance—collectively known as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria. Approval of this statement signals investor support for Nestlé’s sustainability strategy and social commitments.
The 2024 Compensation Report, detailing the remuneration of board and executive members, was also endorsed by shareholders. They additionally approved the total compensation budgets for the Board of Directors and the Executive Board, thereby giving the company a green light to maintain its current compensation strategy.
Another key item on the agenda was the reappointment of Ernst & Young Ltd as Nestlé’s statutory auditors for the 2025 financial year. Their continued engagement helps ensure transparency, integrity, and compliance in Nestlé’s financial reporting processes.
Looking ahead, Nestlé’s Board of Directors and its associated committees will include the following individuals for the coming year:
