Executive Vice President
Group General Counsel
Leanne Geale has extensive legal, compliance and corporate governance experience in industry-leading global companies. She is helping Nestlé achieve its business and sustainability goals, to make a difference in a rapidly changing economic and regulatory environment.
Leanne was appointed Executive Vice President, Group General Counsel, and a member of the Executive Board of Nestle S.A. on August 1, 2019. In this role she is transforming the Legal & Compliance function to enable and protect the company to meet business and ESG goals. She is also driving the digitalization of the Legal & Compliance function to support the business strategy and goals.
From 2014 to 2019, Leanne Geale was Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer for Royal Dutch Shell plc. Former positions at Shell include Associate General Counsel, Heavy Oil and Head of Legal for Shell Canada from 2011 to 2014, Shell Legal Services Coordinator for Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries from 2006 to 2011 as well as Senior Solicitor and successively Associate General Counsel, Oil Products from 2003 to 2006.
Prior to her functions at Shell, she was a Senior Counsel for the Royal Bank of Canada, Senior Counsel and Assistant Secretary for Rio Algom Limited as well as Counsel for Alcan Aluminium Limited in Canada.
Leanne is a member of the board of directors of Holcim Ltd. and a member of its Health, Safety and Sustainability Committee. She is also a member of the board of directors of the CEELI Institute o.p.s. based in Prague whose mission is advancing the rule of law. Leanne has been an active volunteer in the area of mental illness and a strong proponent of diversity and inclusion.
Born and raised in Canada, Leanne holds a B.A. from the University of Alberta and a LL.B. from the Université de Montréal.
