Vera Bradley Appoints Coach Veteran Ian Bickley as New CEO

Bickley to lead company's ongoing transformation efforts after serving as executive chairman.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 3:04am

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Vera Bradley has appointed Ian Bickley, a longtime retail executive with experience at Coach, as the company's new chairman and chief executive officer. Bickley previously served as Vera Bradley's executive chairman and helped guide the company through a CEO transition and ongoing restructuring initiative known as 'Project Sunshine' to sharpen the brand's identity, refine its go-to-market strategy, and improve its digital ecosystem.

Why it matters

Vera Bradley has faced revenue declines in recent years and is working to stabilize its business through a broader turnaround effort. The appointment of Bickley, an experienced retail leader, signals the company's commitment to executing on its transformation strategy and positioning the brand for long-term growth.

The details

Bickley spent 24 years in leadership roles at Coach, where he held several senior positions including president of the brand's international group. He also previously served as interim CEO of The Body Shop and sits on the boards of Crocs and Brilliant Earth. The leadership change follows a period of restructuring at Vera Bradley that included the departure of then-CEO Jacqueline Ardrey and the appointment of Bickley as executive chairman to guide the company through a CEO transition. The company also hired Martin 'Marty' Layding as chief financial officer, bringing experience from Tapestry's Coach brand as well as multiple private equity-backed companies.

  • In June 2025, Vera Bradley announced a series of management and board changes, including the departure of then-CEO Jacqueline Ardrey and the appointment of Bickley as executive chairman.
  • Vera Bradley reported operating income of $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, compared with a loss of $12.4 million during the same period a year earlier.

The players

Ian Bickley

A longtime retail executive who has been appointed as Vera Bradley's new chairman and chief executive officer after previously serving as the company's executive chairman.

Jacqueline Ardrey

The former CEO of Vera Bradley who departed the company in June 2025 as part of a series of management and board changes.

Martin 'Marty' Layding

The new chief financial officer of Vera Bradley, bringing experience from Tapestry's Coach brand as well as multiple private equity-backed companies.

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What they’re saying

“I look forward to continuing the Company's transformation. I will be working closely with the Strategy and Transformation Committee and our new CEO to refine our strategy and drive acceleration of the Company's transformation.”

— Ian Bickley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Vera Bradley (pulse2.com)

What’s next

Vera Bradley expects fiscal 2027 sales to range between $255 million and $270 million and anticipates an operating loss improvement of 40% or more as its transformation strategy continues.

The takeaway

Vera Bradley's appointment of retail veteran Ian Bickley as its new CEO signals the company's commitment to executing on its ongoing turnaround efforts and positioning the brand for long-term growth, even as it continues to face revenue pressure.