Nestlé will cut about 16,000 jobs over two years to reduce costs and boost efficiency, the company said Thursday, with roughly 12,000 white‑collar roles targeted through automation and shared services and another 4,000 in manufacturing and the supply chain. New CEO Philipp Navratil called the reductions “hard but necessary.” The announcement follows the September dismissal of Laurent Freixe for breaching its code of business conduct. Nestlé reported 4.3% third‑quarter organic sales growth and reaffirmed medium‑term investment plans amid consumer and macro risks. Shares jumped 7.6% by 7:30 a.m. ET. The company uses AI and automation in R&D and promotions.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.