Board of Directors

Ms. Baekgaard co-founded Vera Bradley in 1982 and served as Co-President from 1982 through June 2010. In May 2010, she was appointed Chief Creative Officer and served in that post through August 2017 when Beatrice Mac Cabe assumed that role. She still serves as an active brand ambassador with the Company. She also currently serves as a board member of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center Development Board and the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

As Co-Founder of Vera Bradley, Ms. Baekgaard serves a key leadership role on our Board of Directors and provides the Board with a broad array of institutional knowledge and historical perspective. Since our founding, Ms. Baekgaard has provided leadership and strategic direction in our brand’s development by providing creative vision to areas such as marketing, product design, assortment planning and the design and visual merchandising of our stores.

Mr. Hall has served as Chairman of the Board since September 2010. Mr. Hall is the President of Green Gables Partners, a private investment firm that he founded in 2010. Prior to founding Green Gables, he started Andesite Holdings, a private equity firm, where he served as principal from 2007 to 2014. Mr. Hall served as an Executive Director for UBS Financial Services from 2000 to 2007.  Mr. Hall serves as a director of FlyLow Gear Co., a privately-held manufacturer of outerwear; a director of Glade Optics, a privately-held retailer of ski goggles and casual apparel and accessories; and Co-Chair of the U.S. Biathlon Association.

Mr. Hall provides our Board of Directors with insight and perspective on general strategic and financial matters stemming from his extensive experience in investment banking, investment management, financial planning and private placements.

Ms. Ardrey joined the Company as President and Chief Executive Officer on November 1, 2022, replacing retiring President and CEO Robert Wallstrom. She also joined the Company’s Board of Directors on November 1, 2022.

Ms. Ardrey is an accomplished, results-oriented leader with over 25 years of experience in multi-channel retail enterprises. Since 2018, she has held the post of President at home furnishings and seasonal décor catalog retailer Grandin Road, part of the Qurate Retail Group. Previously, Ms. Ardrey was CEO of Trading Company Holdings and Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Supply Chain for iconic omnichannel gourmet food and gifting brand Harry and David. Prior to that, she spent 14 years at multi-channel high-end children’s retailer Hanna Andersson in various roles of increasing responsibility, including Senior Vice President of Merchandising, Design, and Wholesale. Ms. Ardrey began her retail career with the May Company.      
 

Since April 2019, Ms. Cashman has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cashman Restaurant & Retail Consulting. Ms. Cashman’s prior experience includes serving as Chief Financial Officer of several restaurant companies including Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Inc., Eddie V’s Restaurants, Inc., and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, as well as serving as President of Guy and Larry Restaurants, Inc.  Ms. Cashman serves as a director and Chair of the Audit Committee for publicly-held Basset Furniture Industries, Inc. and as a director and Chair of the Audit Committee for privately-held Munchkin, Inc., an infant and toddler lifestyle brand.

Ms. Cashman brings to the Board of Directors particular knowledge and experience in finance, accounting, tax, and capital structure, as well as strategic planning, real estate strategy and selection, operations, and incentive compensation plan development.
 

Ms. Kelley served as President, E-Commerce for electronics retailer Best Buy from April 2014 through March 2017. Prior to joining Best Buy, Ms. Kelley served as Senior Vice President, E-Commerce for Chico’s FAS Inc. from June 2010 to March 2014. Ms. Kelley formerly held the posts of Vice President of Retail Real Estate and Marketing and Vice President of E-Commerce for L.L. Bean.  Ms. Kelley serves on the public company boards of YETI Holdings, Inc. a premium cooler and drinkware company, and Finning International, the world’s largest Caterpillar equipment dealer with operations in Canada, South America, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. She previously served as an advisor to the board of directors and senior leadership of Falabella Retail, the largest department store retailer in South America.

Ms. Kelley has deep capabilities in developing retail omni-channel experience, as well as e-commerce, marketing, and strategic planning. She provides insight and counsel on a variety of issues as the Company continues to pursue our long-term strategic plan, which includes elevating our digital-first strategy and our marketing efforts.
 

Ms. Philip assumed the role of Lead Independent Director in May 2022.

Since 2015, Ms. Philip has served as Chief Creative Officer of Sea Bags, a privately-held manufacturer and retailer of handcrafted tote bags and accessories made from recycled sails. From 1994 to 2011, Ms. Philip held positions of increasing responsibility at L.L. Bean, Inc., a privately-held outdoor apparel and equipment retailer based in Freeport, Maine, including Chief Merchandising Officer from 2002 to 2011. Prior to working at L.L. Bean, Ms. Philip was one of three principals who launched the innovative fresh flower catalog, Calyx & Corolla, and she served in a variety of roles with other specialty retailers, including The Nature Company, Williams-Sonoma, and The Gap.  Ms. Philip also serves on the board of Coats Group plc., a UK-based company that is the world’s leading industrial thread company and traded on the London Stock Exchange, and Totes-Isotoner Corporation, a privately-held international umbrella, footwear, and cold-weather accessory supplier. 
 
Ms. Philip brings to our Board of Directors extensive experience in product design and development, multi-channel merchandising, branding, marketing, creative, and the retail and consumer products industry.
 

From October 2018 until March 2022, Ms. Rodriguez served as President of Entertainment for Univision Communications, Inc., an American Spanish-language television network, and assumed the additional role of Chief Brand Officer from July 2021 through March 2022.  Ms. Rodriguez began her 20+-plus year career in media as Vice President and Station Manager for Univision Puerto Rico.  From there, she successfully progressed through the organization in roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President and Special Assistant to the President for Univision Networks, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Univision Cable Networks; Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Univision; and Chief Operating Officer, Univision Networks, a post she held from January 2018 through December 2020.  Ms. Rodriguez currently serves as a member of the board for public company off-price retailer Burlington Stores, Inc.  
 
Ms. Rodriguez brings particular knowledge and experience in business strategy; operations; media and brand marketing; consumer insights; and creating, transforming, leading, and motivating high-performing, diverse, purpose-driven organizations. She provides insight and counsel on a variety of issues as the Company continues to execute our long-term strategic plan, which includes elevating our digital-first strategy and our marketing efforts.
 

Ms. Tharp served as Vice President, Retail and Consumer, for Google Cloud, a global cloud provider, from August 2019 to March 2023, when she was named to her current post at Google Cloud of Vice President, Global Strategic Industries. In her current role she is responsible for all industries including retail, consumer goods, media and entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and telecommunications. Between October 2016 and July 2019, she was Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer of luxury retailer Neiman Marcus Group and served as Interim Neiman Marcus Brand President from January 2019 until July 2019. Neiman Marcus filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2020. From June 2013 until September 2016, Ms. Tharp served as Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of eCommerce for Fossil Group, a multi-brand watch and accessories business. Prior to that, she held various management positions with Travelocity and Dean Foods.  Ms. Tharp is a member of the board of privately-held premier off-price ecommerce company, Rue Gilt Groupe, Inc., and serves on the board of privately-held, digitally-native luxury company Moda Operandi.  She has also served on the board of The National Retail Federation (NRF) since 2023.

Ms. Tharp has extensive omni-channel retail experience, including in the handbag and accessories categories; a track record of growth and profit performance improvement; and expertise in e-commerce, marketing with vertically integrated consumer brands, brand management, digital fluency, social media, customer insights, analytics, customer strategy, and machine learning/Artificial Intelligence (AI), and generative AI.
 

From April 2020 to November 2023, Mr. Weston served as the Chief Executive Officer of Party City Holdco Inc., a manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer of party supplies.  From July 2019 to April 2020, he held the post of President of Party City Holdings, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of Party City Retail.  Party City Holdco Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in January 2023.  Previously, he spent seven years with Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. in roles of increasing responsibility from Chief Merchandising Officer to President and Chief Executive Officer. He also led the merchant organization at Dick’s Sporting Goods from 2008 to 2011 as Chief Merchandising Officer.  Prior to that, he successfully rose through the ranks at May Department Stores from Executive Trainee to Senior Vice President, General Merchandising Manager, Ready-to-Wear.  Mr. Weston is currently a member of the board of public company Boot Barn, Inc., the largest western and workwear retailer in the U.S.  
 
Mr. Weston is a battle-tested executive with a diverse background, having successfully operated in mature, start-up, turnaround/transformation, and high-growth situations over his 35-year retail career.  He has deep knowledge and experience in business strategy, operations, omnichannel retail, and merchandising. He provides meaningful insight as the Company continues to execute our long-term strategic plan.