---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001495320-25-000044"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "VRA"
cik: "0001495320"
company_name: "Vera Bradley, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-06-11T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-19T12:59:34.689946+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# CEO Ardrey departs; CFO Schwindle out; Bickley named Exec Chairman, Layding new CFO

## Summary
- CEO Jackie Ardrey steps down, will remain through July; national search for replacement.
- Ian Bickley becomes Executive Chairman July 7, 2025, assumes interim CEO duties; receives $30k/month plus $600k RSU grant.
- CFO Michael Schwindle departs June 12, 2025, stays until June 30; Martin Layding starts as CFO June 12.
- Layding base salary $475k, STI target 65%, LTI grants totaling $1.025M and $150k cash sign-on.
- Board Chair Robert Hall steps down, remains director; Andrew Meslow named Lead Independent Director; new Strategy and Transformation Committee formed.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001495320-25-000044
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: VRA
- cik: 0001495320
- company_name: Vera Bradley, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-06-11T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495320/000149532025000044/0001495320-25-000044-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495320/000149532025000044/vra-20250611.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001495320-25-000044
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001495320-25-000044.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001495320-25-000044.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Martin Layding was appointed as Chief Financial Officer at Vera Bradley, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On June 11, 2025, the Company also announced that Martin Layding, 54, will join the Company as its CFO effective June 12, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495320/000149532025000044/0001495320-25-000044-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael Schwindle departed as Chief Financial Officer at Vera Bradley, Inc..
  - Action: stepping down
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: Also on June 11, 2025, the Company announced that Michael Schwindle, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), will be stepping down from his position as CFO, effective June 12, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495320/000149532025000044/0001495320-25-000044-index.htm
- Executive change
  Jackie Ardrey departed as President and Chief Executive Officer at Vera Bradley, Inc..
  - Action: stepped down
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On June 11, 2025, Vera Bradley, Inc. (the "Company") announced that Jackie Ardrey has decided to step down from her position as President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495320/000149532025000044/0001495320-25-000044-index.htm
- Executive change
  Ian Bickley was appointed as Executive Chairman at Vera Bradley, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Executive Chairman
  source text: Ian Bickley, 61 and a current member of the Company’s Board of Directors, will assume the role of Executive Chairman effective July 7, 2025
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495320/000149532025000044/0001495320-25-000044-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.