Manuela Bernasconi Will Lead Nestlé Legal Team
The Nestlé Board of Directors appointed Manuela Bernasconi to serve as Group General Counsel starting in January 2027.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People
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Manuela Bernasconi will officially step into the role of Group General Counsel at Nestlé on January 1, 2027. She will succeed current counsel Leanne Geale, who is set to retire at the end of 2026.
Why it matters
The appointment ensures a leadership transition for the food and beverage giant's global legal operations. It follows Bernasconi's progression through various executive legal positions within the company since 2007.
Manuela Bernasconi brings two decades of institutional experience to her new position, succeeding Leanne Geale who led the department for seven years.
The players
Manuela Bernasconi
She is the incoming Group General Counsel for Nestlé who previously managed legal affairs for Nespresso and the company's Americas division.
Leanne Geale
She is the outgoing Group General Counsel who managed the company's international legal strategy for seven years.
Nestlé
This Switzerland-based multinational is one of the world largest food and beverage corporations.
The details
The Nestlé Board of Directors selected Bernasconi following her recent tenure as General Counsel for Zone Americas. Her career at the company began in 2007 and included a leadership stint as General Counsel for Nespresso starting in 2020.
Timeline
Manuela Bernasconi joined Nestlé in 2007.
Bernasconi became General Counsel for Nespresso in 2020.
Bernasconi was appointed General Counsel for Zone Americas in January 2025.
Leanne Geale will retire at the end of 2026.
Manuela Bernasconi assumes the Group General Counsel role on January 1, 2027.
Market Landscape
This transition maintains continuity within the company's executive leadership hierarchy during a period of ongoing global market shifts. It follows the established succession protocols of the Nestlé corporate governance structure to ensure stability in international operations.
This internal appointment maintains established corporate legal strategies, ensuring that standard company policies remain consistent for clients and partners. Consumers should expect no changes to brand availability or retail pricing as a direct result of this leadership shift.
The takeaway
Executive leadership transitions at major corporations are often long-planned to ensure continuity in legal and operational standards. Investors and stakeholders typically monitor these shifts for signs of strategic continuity within the firm.
Further reading
Learn more about organizational leadership updates in our People section.
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