SWITZERLAND – Nestlé’s Board of Directors has appointed Manuela Bernasconi, currently General Counsel for Zone Americas, as Group General Counsel and a member of the Group Executive Board, effective 1 January 2027.

Manuela Bernasconi joined Nestlé in 2007 as Legal Counsel in Corporate & Group Compliance and has since held a series of increasingly senior legal leadership roles across the company.

After serving in roles within Zone Europe and Nestlé Switzerland, she joined Nespresso in 2017 and was appointed General Counsel for Nespresso in 2020.

She subsequently served as General Counsel for Zone Latin America before being appointed General Counsel for Zone Americas in January 2025.

Philipp Navratil, Nestlé CEO, said: “With nearly 20 years of experience at Nestlé, Manuela combines deep legal expertise with a strong understanding of our company.

“She is a trusted adviser with a proven ability to navigate complex legal, regulatory and compliance matters. Her leadership and strategic perspective make her ideally placed to lead our Legal & Compliance function into its next chapter.”

Nestlé Japan appoints Motoi Shimakawa as President and CEO 

In June 2026, the company appointed Motoi Shimakawa as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2026, succeeding Tatsuhiko Fukaya, who will retire on 30 June after leading the company from Kobe. 

Shimakawa currently serves as Senior Managing Executive Officer and General Manager of Nestlé Japan’s Beverage Business Division.

Over the past several years, he has overseen major operations across the company’s Nescafé and Starbucks consumer packaged goods businesses in both in-home and out-of-home channels. 

The company said Shimakawa has also led digital marketing and e-commerce activities, helping to drive growth through digital transformation and the expansion of online channels. 

Nestlé Japan noted that he played an important role in strengthening the company’s cold coffee business, a category that has experienced strong growth in the Japanese market. 

Shimakawa joined Nestlé Japan in 2002 and has held leadership roles spanning sales, beverage strategy, soluble coffee, digital commerce and new business development. 

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