---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-26-017726"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "VRA"
cik: "0001495320"
company_name: "Vera Bradley, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-03-13T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T12:30:55.933804+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Vera Bradley appoints Ian Bickley as permanent CEO; CFO Layding adds COO role; CAO Dely to depart

## Summary
- Ian Bickley named CEO & Chairman effective March 12, 2026; base salary $750k, target bonus 100%, max 200%.
- CFO Martin Layding assumes additional COO duties; salary increased from $475k to $550k.
- Chief Admin & Legal Officer Mark Dely to leave effective June 27, 2026; severance per executive severance plan.
- Bickley receives $500k sign-on RSU award vesting over 3 years; FY27 equity grant target value $1.5M.
- Employment agreement runs through end of FY2029 (Feb 2029) with automatic one-year renewals thereafter.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-26-017726
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: VRA
- cik: 0001495320
- company_name: Vera Bradley, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-03-13T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495320/000162828026017726/0001628280-26-017726-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1495320/000162828026017726/vra-20260311.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-017726
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-017726.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-017726.txt

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