Who was the CEO of Kate Spade at the time of the 2017 acquisition?

Craig Leavitt was the CEO of Kate Spade at the time of the company’s 2017 acquisition by Coach. He led Kate Spade & Company from February 2014 until the acquisition was completed in July 2017.

The transaction valued Kate Spade at about $2.4 billion, with Coach paying $18.50 per share. It closed on July 11, 2017, turning Kate Spade into a wholly owned Coach subsidiary. Coach later changed its corporate name to Tapestry, Inc.

Leavitt’s tenure covered the company’s transition from a primarily accessories-focused label into a broader lifestyle business spanning handbags, apparel, jewelry, home goods, and fragrance. He was also the executive quoted in the 2017 announcement of the proposed deal.

A common mix-up is Deborah Lloyd, who was Kate Spade’s chief creative officer, not CEO. Anna Bakst succeeded Leavitt as CEO and brand president in 2018, after the acquisition had already taken place.