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From Hotline to Headline: How Boards Can Strengthen Whistleblowing Oversight
As CEO departures due to personal misconduct increase, directors can use this guidance to strengthen their response to whistleblower reports involving the executive team.
In September 2025, Nestlé faced a governance crisis after whistleblower reports submitted through its “speak up” hotline led the company to investigate undisclosed conflicts of interest involving CEO Laurent Freixe. The board ultimately dismissed Freixe one year after hiring him for failing to disclose a relationship with a subordinate, which breached Nestlé’s code of conduct. This, compounded by perceptions that the board’s response fell short of expectations, made shareholders question the quality of ...
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Vera Cherepanova is executive director of Boards of the Future and chairs the Global Forum for Governance, Risk and Performance at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
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