Angela Ahrendts

Angela Ahrendts
Born	Angela Jean Ahrendts 12 6, 1960
Birthplace	New Palestine, Indiana, U.S.
Nationality	American, British
Occupation	Business executive
Title	Lead Independent Director, Ralph Lauren Corporation
Known for	CEO of Burberry (2006–2014), Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple Inc. (2014–2019)
Education	Ball State University (B.S.)
Awards	Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

Dame Angela Jean Ahrendts DBE (born June 12, 1960) is an American-British business executive who rose from a small town in Indiana to lead some of the most recognized brands in the world. She served as chief executive officer of British luxury fashion house Burberry from 2006 to 2014, a period during which the company underwent a significant digital and brand transformation. In 2014, she joined Apple Inc. as senior vice president of retail and online stores, becoming one of the highest-ranking women in the technology industry. She held that position until her departure in 2019. Her career has spanned the fashion, luxury goods, and technology sectors, and she has been recognized on numerous global power lists. She was ranked 25th on ForbesTemplate:' 2015 list of the most powerful women in the world, 29th on FortuneTemplate:' 2014 list of the world's most powerful women in business, and 9th on the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power List of the most powerful women in the United Kingdom. In 2020, she became the chair of the board of Save the Children International, and in 2025, she was appointed lead independent director of Ralph Lauren Corporation.

Early Life

Angela Jean Ahrendts was born on June 12, 1960, in New Palestine, a small town in Indiana, United States. She grew up in a large family and developed an early interest in fashion and design. Her upbringing in a small Midwestern community later became a notable element of her public profile, as journalists frequently contrasted her origins with the global luxury and technology brands she would come to lead.

Ahrendts has described herself as having been shy during her youth, an attribute that she has discussed publicly in reflecting on her path to leadership in the corporate world. Despite growing up far from the fashion capitals of the world, she developed a strong sense of ambition and an interest in the fashion industry from a young age. The values she absorbed in her Indiana upbringing—community, hard work, and authenticity—became themes she would return to throughout her career in interviews and public addresses.

Education

Ahrendts attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where she studied merchandising and marketing. She earned a bachelor's degree from the institution. Ball State University would later recognize her as one of its most prominent alumni. Her education in merchandising provided the foundation for her subsequent career in the fashion and retail industries.

Career

Early Career in Fashion

After graduating from Ball State University, Ahrendts moved to New York City to pursue a career in the fashion industry. She held positions at several major American fashion companies. Her early career included roles at Warnaco, where she gained experience in the apparel business. She later worked at Henri Bendel and Donna Karan International, steadily advancing through the ranks of the American fashion industry.

Her experience at Donna Karan was particularly formative, as it exposed her to the challenges of managing a growing fashion brand. She also spent time at Liz Claiborne, where she served in executive roles. These positions gave her broad experience across multiple segments of the fashion market, from luxury to mid-range apparel, and provided her with the operational expertise that would define her later leadership roles.

CEO of Burberry (2006–2014)

In 2006, Ahrendts was appointed chief executive officer of Burberry, the British luxury fashion house known for its iconic check pattern and trench coats. At the time of her appointment, the brand faced challenges related to overexposure and brand dilution, as its signature check had become ubiquitous and, in certain markets, associated with counterfeiting and unfavorable cultural connotations.

Ahrendts undertook a comprehensive strategy to reposition Burberry as a premier global luxury brand. Central to her approach was a focus on digital innovation, which set Burberry apart from many of its competitors in the luxury sector. Under her leadership, Burberry became one of the first major luxury brands to embrace social media and digital marketing aggressively. The company invested in live-streaming its fashion shows, engaged with consumers through platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, and integrated digital technology into its retail stores.

Ahrendts also oversaw a significant rationalization of the brand's licensing arrangements, pulling back from third-party licenses that she believed were diluting Burberry's brand equity. She worked to centralize control over the brand's image and product offerings, ensuring a more consistent global presentation. This strategy included a focus on the company's heritage products, particularly the trench coat, which became a centerpiece of Burberry's marketing and retail strategy.

During her tenure, Burberry's revenue and market capitalization grew substantially. The company's digital-first approach attracted considerable attention from business analysts and media, and Ahrendts was frequently cited as one of the most innovative executives in the luxury goods sector. Her work at Burberry earned her widespread recognition, including a profile in The Wall Street Journal Magazine and inclusion on multiple lists of the world's most powerful business leaders.

In recognition of her contributions to British business, Ahrendts was awarded an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2014. As an American citizen, she received the honor in an honorary capacity.

She also served as a member of the United Kingdom Prime Minister's business advisory group, which was established to provide counsel on economic policy. The group was reshuffled in 2012 under Prime Minister David Cameron. The advisory group was ultimately disbanded in 2016 under Prime Minister Theresa May.

Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple (2014–2019)

On October 14, 2013, Apple Inc. announced that Ahrendts would join the company as senior vice president of retail and online stores, succeeding John Browett and reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. The announcement attracted significant media attention, both because of her prominence in the luxury fashion world and because of the salary package she was offered, which made her one of the highest-paid executives at Apple.

Ahrendts officially joined Apple in May 2014. In her role, she oversaw Apple's global retail operations, which at the time comprised more than 450 stores worldwide, as well as the company's online sales channel. Her mandate included reimagining the Apple retail experience and integrating the physical and digital aspects of Apple's consumer-facing operations.

Under Ahrendts' leadership, Apple undertook a significant redesign of its retail strategy. She introduced the concept of "Town Squares," reimagining Apple Stores as community gathering spaces rather than traditional retail locations. This vision included architectural redesigns of flagship stores, the introduction of "Today at Apple" educational sessions and creative workshops, and the renaming of store employees with titles intended to reflect their roles as community members rather than salespeople.

One of the most prominent projects during her tenure was the renovation and reopening of the historic Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C., as an Apple Store. The project was emblematic of her broader strategy of positioning Apple retail locations within culturally significant buildings and spaces, blurring the line between retail, education, and community engagement.

Ahrendts departed Apple in April 2019. Her tenure was assessed with mixed reviews by industry analysts. Some praised her for elevating the aesthetic and experiential quality of Apple's retail stores, while others noted that the "Town Square" concept had met with skepticism from some consumers and employees.

Post-Apple Career and Board Roles

Following her departure from Apple, Ahrendts turned her attention to board service and philanthropic leadership. In November 2020, Save the Children International announced that Ahrendts had been appointed as the new chair of its board. She was described as the first independent chair from outside Save the Children to hold a seat on the SCI/SCA Board, bringing her corporate leadership experience to the global humanitarian organization.

Ahrendts had previously joined the board of Ralph Lauren Corporation, and in June 2025, the company announced her appointment as its new lead independent director. The appointment was interpreted by industry observers as a signal of Ralph Lauren's intent to leverage Ahrendts' experience in luxury brand repositioning and digital transformation, drawing on the strategies she had employed at both Burberry and Apple.

Her appointment at Ralph Lauren placed her at the center of a broader trend of fashion companies seeking leadership with cross-industry experience. Modaes described her as "Burberry's 'magician'" and noted that her appointment reflected Ralph Lauren's desire to draw on her track record of brand transformation.

Personal Life

Ahrendts holds both American and British citizenship. She is married to Gregg Couch. The couple has children. Ahrendts has spoken publicly about the challenge of balancing a demanding executive career with family life, particularly during her years leading Burberry from London while maintaining ties to the United States.

She has been involved in philanthropic activities, most notably through her role as chair of the board of Save the Children International. Her interest in humanitarian causes, particularly those related to children's welfare and education, has been a recurring theme in her post-corporate career.

Ahrendts has also been featured by MAKERS, a media platform documenting women's stories and achievements.

Recognition

Throughout her career, Ahrendts has received numerous accolades and appeared on several prominent lists recognizing business leadership:

• Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE): Awarded in recognition of her services to British business, particularly during her tenure as CEO of Burberry. As an American citizen, the honor was granted in an honorary capacity.
• Forbes Most Powerful Women: Ranked 25th on ForbesTemplate:' 2015 list of the world's most powerful women.
• Fortune Most Powerful Women in Business: Ranked 29th on FortuneTemplate:' 2014 list of the most powerful women in business globally.
• BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power List: Ranked 9th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom.
• St George's Society of New York: Ahrendts was recognized by the organization.
• BoF 500: Included in The Business of FashionTemplate:' BoF 500, a professional index of the people shaping the global fashion industry.
• Fast Company: Recognized by Fast Company magazine for her leadership and innovation.
• UK Prime Minister's Business Advisory Group: Served as a member of the business advisory council under Prime Minister David Cameron until the group was disbanded in 2016.

Ahrendts has also been recognized by Women's Wear Daily for her contributions to the fashion industry.

Legacy

Angela Ahrendts' career has been defined by her ability to move between the fashion and technology industries, applying lessons from one sector to the other. Her tenure at Burberry is frequently cited as a case study in how a heritage luxury brand can be revitalized through digital innovation and disciplined brand management. The strategies she employed—live-streaming fashion shows, centralizing brand control, and investing in digital engagement—became standard practices across the luxury industry in the years that followed.

At Apple, her attempt to transform retail stores into community-oriented "Town Squares" represented an ambitious reimagining of the role of physical retail in an increasingly digital marketplace. While the long-term impact of this approach continues to be debated, the "Today at Apple" programming she introduced has persisted as a feature of Apple's retail operations.

Her career trajectory—from a small town in Indiana to the executive suites of some of the world's most valuable companies—has made her a frequently cited figure in discussions about women in corporate leadership. Her appointment as lead independent director at Ralph Lauren in 2025 demonstrated her continued influence in the fashion industry and signaled that her expertise in brand transformation remained in demand more than a decade after her initial rise to prominence at Burberry.

Her cross-sector career path has also been noted as part of a broader trend of executives moving between traditionally separate industries, with Reuters including her trajectory among examples of CEO moves between industries.