Strategic roles and a transformation committee set stage for next phase
Vera Bradley has announced a pivotal leadership reshuffle as CEO Jacqueline Ardrey prepares to exit by late July. Ardrey, credited with launching the ambitious Project Restoration in 2022, remains through the summer to support a smooth handover. The board is concurrently conducting a national search for her successor.
Effective July 7, veteran retail executive Ian Bickley steps in as Executive Chairman—a strategic, interim role guiding the company through this phase. Bickley, formerly of Coach and The Body Shop, will lead both board and executive functions during the transition. Meanwhile, outgoing board chair Robert Hall will remain on the board as a director.
The company is also bringing on Martin Layding as Chief Financial Officer starting June 12, replacing Michael Schwindle, who departs at month’s end.
In alignment with its transformation agenda, the board has established a Strategy and Transformation Committee, co-chaired by Bickley and newly appointed Lead Independent Director Andrew Meslow. The committee signals a collaborative, mission-driven framework, designed to guide future growth and operational alignment.
This governance shift marks a purposeful recalibration: ensuring executive continuity, sharpening board-level oversight, and reinforcing a strategic infrastructure for the next stage of evolution.