Nestlé, Astronomer and Kohl’s CEOs Lose Jobs Over Workplace Romances

The year 2025 has seen a wave of CEO exits tied to personal conduct, with three high-profile leaders losing their jobs over workplace romances.

Nestlé dismissed CEO Laurent Freixe after an internal probe revealed an undisclosed relationship with a subordinate, breaching the company’s code of conduct. Freixe had been in the role for just a year.

At US tech firm Astronomer, CEO Andy Byron resigned following a viral “kiss cam” moment at a Coldplay concert with the company’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot. Both were married to other people, and the incident fueled widespread backlash. Subsequent reports alleged Byron spent more than $250,000 on OnlyFans subscriptions and private calls. Astronomer confirmed both Byron and Cabot had resigned.

US retailer Kohl’s removed CEO Ashley Buchanan earlier this year after investigators found he had failed to disclose personal ties to a vendor. The probe highlighted unusual multi-million-dollar deals that raised concerns about conflicts of interest.

The three cases reflect a broader trend of heightened scrutiny on executive behavior. So far this year, at least 41 CEOs have exited S&P 500 companies, making 2025 one of the most active years for leadership changes in two decades.