Former Nestlé Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe has informed the company’s Board of Directors of his decision to relinquish the position of Chairman Emeritus effective 16 April 2026.
The position of Chairman Emeritus is a largely honorary or advisory position. Brabeck-Letmathe was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1997 and was named Vice-Chairman in 2001 before elevating to Chairman in 2005.
He also held the position of Nestlé CEO from 1997 to 2008.
Brabeck-Letmathe joined the Nestlé Group in 1968 and retied from official duties in 2017.
Current Nestlé Chair of the Board, Pablo Isla, praised Brabeck-Letmathe’s distinguished journey with the business.
“Peter is one of those individuals whose vision and commitment have left an unforgettable mark on our company,” says Isla.
“As Chairman Emeritus he continued to follow the company with genuine interest, and I am certain Peter will remain a valued friend of Nestlé.”
With the 159th Annual General Meeting on 16 April, 2026, this honorary title will conclude.
Brabeck-Letmathe’s relenquishing of the position continues a period of leadership upheaval at Nestlé over 2025 and 2026.
Isla became Chair of the Board on 1 October 2025 after former Chair Paul Bulcke stepped down from the role.
That came barely a month after Phillip Navratil was appointed as CEO of Nestlé, S.A., following the dismissal of Laurent Freixe in September.
