Nestlé appoints Manuela Bernasconi as group general counsel
Nestlé has appointed Manuela Bernasconi as its new group general counsel and a member of the group executive Board, effective 1 January 2027.
Bernasconi currently serves as general counsel for zone Americas, a position she has held since January 2025. She will succeed Leanne Geale, who will retire after seven years as Nestlé’s Group general counsel.
The profile
Bernasconi joined Nestlé in 2007 as Legal Counsel in Corporate & Group Compliance and has since held a number of increasingly senior legal leadership positions across the group.
She previously held legal roles within Zone Europe and Nestlé Switzerland before joining Nespresso in 2017. She was appointed General Counsel of Nespresso in 2020 and subsequently served as General Counsel for Zone Latin America before taking on her current role in Zone Americas.
Navratil highlighted her experience advising on complex legal, regulatory and compliance matters, adding that her leadership and strategic perspective would support the continued development of Nestlé’s Legal & Compliance function.
He also thanked Geale for her seven years leading the function, noting her role in strengthening and professionalising Nestlé’s Legal & Compliance operations, including the company’s approach to human rights.
