Sept 16 (Reuters) - Nestle said on Tuesday

Chairman Paul Bulcke has decided to step down, days after the

Swiss food giant abruptly dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe for

failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a subordinate.

Bulcke will be succeeded by Vice Chairman Pablo Isla,

effective October 1. Bulcke was earlier supposed to hand over

the reins to Isla in April 2026.

"This is the right moment for me to step aside and

accelerate the planned transition," Bulcke said.

The Financial Times had reported last week that Nestle

investors had called for Bulcke to step down over the departure

of a second chief executive in just over a year.