Sustainability governance
We want to be a trusted leader in our sector. Building our business on clear principles and sound governance helps maintain trust in the Nestlé brand and reduce risk throughout our value chain.
Our governance structure
Our governance structure reflects our purpose, enables our strategy and supports our commitments.
Nestlé's sustainability strategy is key to our decision-making. It is set by the Board of Directors, delivered by our Executive Board and regularly reviewed by the Board’s Sustainability Committee to ensure we meet our aim of long-term value creation.
Our activities align with Art. 964a-l of the Swiss Code of Obligations.
Our governance and implementation structure
- Board level
- Nestlé executive
- External advisory
- Approves
- Reports
- Advises
The Board of Directors is responsible for our strategy and organization and provides oversight over our financial and non-financial performance and reporting. The Board of Directors approves our strategy and approves our Non-Financial Statement for submission to the Annual General Meeting.
Science, Technology & Sustainability Committee (STSC)
The STSC has oversight over the structure and content of our non-financial reporting and validates that the overall approach is in line with our strategy.
Audit Committee (AC)
The AC has oversight over the accuracy of our financial and non-financial reporting.
Compensation Committee (CC)
The CC has oversight over our compensation and benefits policies.
The Executive Board is responsible for the definition and execution of our sustainability strategy, which includes ensuring compliance with mandatory reporting obligations.
The CSV Council is an external advisory body that advises senior management on a range of sustainability issues.
The ESG and Sustainability Council provides strategic leadership and execution support. It drives the implementation of our sustainability strategy, including our Nestlé Net Zero Roadmap, ensuring focus and alignment.
Scope:
- Nestlé Net Zero Roadmap
- Packaging sustainability
- Water
- Responsible sourcing
- Human rights
- Communications
- Advocacy
- Systems and non-financial reporting
The NHW Council is responsible for leading our Nutrition, Health and Wellness strategy and overseeing its deployment for the Group.
Scope:
- Nutrition
- Systems and non-financial reporting
Nestlé Corporate Business Principles
Our Corporate Business Principles provide a framework for how we operate with integrity, Creating Shared Value at every step of the journey. The principles are available in various languages, and we have a formal commitment to provide all employees with training on them.
The principles are reviewed by our Executive Board and aligned with international best practices and standards, such as the UN Global Compact Principles.
The ongoing implementation of relevant business codes, policies, processes and tools ensures compliance throughout the business. We monitor their application and effectiveness through various channels, including our CARE audits, and update where necessary.
Science, Technology & Sustainability Committee
Science and technology are important elements in Nestlé’s ability to create long-term, sustainable value. The Science, Technology & Sustainability Committee helps the Board oversee the Company’s approach to science and technology and reviews the measures which ensure the Company’s sustainability and how its long-term strategy relates to its ability to create shared value.
Former Dean of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Patrick was elected to the Nestlé Board of Directors in 2015. He also serves on the Compensation Committee.
With a Master’s degree in Agriculture/Grassland Science and a PHD in Agriculture/Animal Physiology, Lindiwe is a professor and senior research fellow at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and Director and Chairwoman of the African Research Universities Alliance Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems. She was elected to the Nestlé Board of Directors in 2021 and also serves on the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
Chief Marketing Officer and Innovation Officer at Ecolab Inc., Chris was elected to the Nestlé Board of Directors in 2022. She also serves on the Audit and Finance Committee.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Danaher Corporation, a global science and technology company, Rainer was elected to the Nestlé Board of Directors in 2023. He also serves on the Audit and Finance Committee.
A former Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of DSM-Firmenich AG, Geraldine was elected to the Nestlé Board of Directors in 2024. She also serves on the Audit and Finance Committee.
ESG and Sustainability Council
Our ESG and Sustainability Council oversees our sustainability strategy, advises the Nestlé Executive Board on how to make informed and science-based decisions, and helps to accelerate and standardize decision-making on a global level.
Members of the ESG and Sustainability Council include Executive Board Members:
With a PhD in Process Engineering and an MBA in marketing, Stefan is an Associated Professor of Food Science and Technology at the University of Copenhagen. He joined Nestlé as a project manager over 20 years ago and is now our Chief Technology Officer.
Read Stefan's full profile.
With a legal background and a career that has included positions at the Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Dutch Shell and Shell Canada, Leanne joined Nestlé in 2019 as an Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Corporate Governance and Compliance.
Read Leanne's full profile.
Remy leads a business committed to delivering affordable accessible nutrition to consumers in more than 110 countries, ensuring Nestlé products have a place in their daily diet. He joined Nestlé in Saudi Arabia in 1998 and in September 2020, was appointed Nestlé's Chairman and CEO for the Middle East and North Africa region.
Read Bemy's full profile.
Stephanie originally joined Nestlé in 1995 in Production Management for Friskies Pet Care with Nestlé USA, but after several roles in the company, in November 2023, Stephanie was appointed as Executive Vice President of Nestlé S.A. in charge of Operations.
Read Stephanie's full profile.
David joined Nestlé in 2005 as Marketing Director of UK & Ireland Confectionary. In April 2025, he was appointed Head of our Strategic Business Units and Marketing and Sales.
Read David's full profile.
As CEO of Nestlé Health Science, Anna leads with her passionate belief that the right nutrition can change lives. She joined Nestlé Health Science USA, in 2010, first leading the Medical Nutrition Marketing team, then leading the Medical Nutrition Sales team, before becoming CEO.
Read Anna's full profile.
Anna joined Nestlé in March 2024 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She brings over 20 years of experience with her in Strategy, Finance and Control in different industries and geographies. Anna is committed to supporting inclusive development of future finance leaders inside and outside of Nestlé.
Read Anna's full profile.
Guillaume joined Nestlé in 1998 as an Internal auditor. Having spent over 25 years with the company in various roles, including CEO of Nespresso, he is now our Chief Executive Officer, Zone Europe.
Read Guillaume's full profile.
Anna joined Nestlé in 2004, in the Audit Division at the headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland. She then gained experience working in Finance and General Management before being appointed as Global Head of Human Resources in January 2025.
Read Anna's full profile.
Jeff started his career with Purina back in 1991 as a Sales Representative for Ralston Purina in the U.S. He is the CEO of Zone Americas and leads our growth strategy with a strong passion for innovation and a remarkable talent for inspiring and energizing his teams.
Read Jeff's full profile.
With a communications background over three decades, including senior positions at AOL and working for an anti-poverty advocacy organization co-founded by Bono, Lisa has led corporate communications at Nestlé since July 2022, as Deputy Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer.
Read Lisa's full profile.
Nutrition, Health and Wellness Council
We appointed two senior leaders - Head of Nutrition, Health and Wellness, and Chief Nutritionist - to further strengthen and support our Nutrition, Health and Wellness (NHW) Council. Together, they will help to implement our NHW strategy, ensuring that nutrition plays a key role in our decision-making and our portfolio development. Both roles will report directly to the NHW Council to ensure governance in line with regulatory requirements and our stakeholder expectations.
Creating Shared Value Council
The Creating Shared Value Council is an external advisory council formed in 2009. The Council helps ensure the sound development of long-term strategy relating to sustainability issues.
Chaired by Janet Voûte, the Council comprises ten members, whose expertise spans corporate social responsibility, strategy, sustainability, nutrition, water and rural development.
Rob has had a 30-year career in corporate sustainability, most recently as Global Head of Public Affairs and ESG Engagement at Nestlé SA. Previously, Rob was CEO at SustainAbility, a leading think tank and advisory firm. He is a former CEO of Fairtrade International which has improved the livelihoods of millions of farmers around the world. He began his work in sustainability as CEO of Flag, a pioneering corporate communications company. Presently, Rob sits on several advisory boards, Chairs the International Chamber of Commerce's Global Environment and Energy Commission and is a Senior Advisor to Ambition Loop, a Chilean-based NGO.
Georg is Chairman of Arabesque, a fund manager that uses self-learning quantitative models and big data to assess the performance and sustainability of globally listed companies.
He is the Founder of the UN Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability movement, with over 9 000 corporate and 4 000 non-corporate participants in more than 160 countries. He is also Chairman of the VW Sustainability Council.
Mark is a former faculty member of Harvard Business School, where he taught courses on creating shared value and purpose and profit. He is currently a founder of several public benefit corporations, including Congruence Capital, an impact investing hedge fund. He is best known as the co-author of seminal articles on creating shared value, collective impact and catalytic philanthropy. Mark co-founded FSG, a global consulting firm that helps develop social impact strategies for many of the world's largest foundations, corporations and nonprofit organizations. He also serves on the Supervisory Board of the World Benchmarking Alliance.
Bryan is the former owner, CEO and Chair of Blue Bottle Coffee. After acquiring Blue Bottle in 2012, he grew the company from seven to more than 100 locations across the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and China.
Bryan's career has been focused on smaller companies that are challenging larger ones primarily around the areas of product quality, sustainability and innovation. Previously, he co-founded Nude Skincare and Fresh & Wild natural food stores in London (now acquired and rebranded as Whole Foods).
Jennifer is dedicated to finding bold science-based conservation solutions for people and nature. In her role as CEO of The Nature Conservancy, her mission is to develop breakthrough ideas, amplify local knowledge, influence global decision-making, and forge new paths, including innovative finance mechanisms, to address the dual crises of the climate emergency and biodiversity loss.
Gonzalo co-leads the Race To Zero, Race To Resilience and GFANZ campaigns. Previously, he co-founded and led TriCiclos, one of the most recognised Latin American companies in circular economy and recycling. Gonzalo also co-founded Sistema B (Bcorps in Latin America), Manuia and Polkura Winery. He is also a member of the Club of Rome. For COP28 he chairs the Non-State Actors Action Agenda for Regenerative Landscapes. He is also the general coordinator for the UN Plastics Treaty Friends of the Action.
Stuart is the Leader of the WWF Freshwater Practice at World Wide Fund for Nature. He has spent his career devising and testing innovative approaches to freshwater conservation by engaging business and finance, and focusing on emerging themes such as the water-food-energy nexus, economic incentives, bankable financing and water-related risk.
He has written numerous scientific papers and publications on issues ranging from corporate water governance to fish protein. He serves on a number of advisory councils and non-profit boards as well as supporting conservation projects in over 40 countries.
With a Master’s degree in Agriculture/Grassland Science and a PHD in Agriculture/Animal Physiology, Lindiwe is a professor and senior research fellow at the University of Pretoria, South Africa and Director and Chairwoman of the African Research Universities Alliance Center of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems. She was elected to the Nestlé Board of Directors in 2021.
Janet is the Chairperson of the Creating Shared Value Council and a non-executive director at Bupa, the leading international health insurance and healthcare company.
She is currently a member of the Advisory Council at SustainAbility and is an ambassador for the International Integrated Reporting Initiative.
Previously, Janet served as Global Head of Public Affairs at Nestlé. She spent 10 years in public health, serving as Partnership Advisor at the World Health Organization in the area of noncommunicable diseases and mental health, and as CEO of the World Heart Federation.
She began her career in corporate strategy consulting, where she was Vice President and Managing Partner at Bain & Company, Switzerland, focused on consumer goods and health-related industries.

