Coach and its CEO and Brand President, Todd Kahn (at top, left), hosted an intimate evening at its Hudson Yards headquarters to celebrate the release of Bag Man: The Story Behind the Improbable Rise of Coach. The highly anticipated memoir is by Chairman Emeritus and former CEO Lew Frankfort (at top, center), detailing his decades-long career leading Coach from a small family-run business to a globally recognized fashion house. The event brought together industry leaders, media, and longtime friends of the brand for an inspiring conversation and a toast to Frankfort’s latest chapter. Guests gathered in the Lew Frankfort Atrium for a special reception with Frankfort, who reflected on the pivotal moments, challenges, and triumphs that shaped the iconic American brand. The event also featured remarks from Todd Kahn and Creative Director Stuart Vevers (at top, right), who offered collaboration and ideas throughout the creation of the book.
In his remarks, Kahn feted Frankfort’s 29 years as the brand’s CEO, spotlighting his brand-building philosophy, “Magic plus logic.” Vevers confessed that he leans more towards the magic part of that equation, and heralded the power of family.
Frankfort, a Bronx native, originally worked in New York City government, and would have skipped his third interview for the position if his wife, Bobby, hadn’t pushed him to go. Bobby was there for the party, as were their three children and eight grandchildren. (During one minor glitch with a video presentation for the evening, one of the youngest piped up, “That’s okay.”)
Frankfort praised the team at Coach, noting that they love the brand, which he said is a microcosm of the best of America, offering a lot of heart, hard work, and the ability to withstand the ups and downs, always emerging stronger. He observed that Coach is returning to its roots while targeting Gen Z, experiencing a renaissance in its 8th decade of business — Coach celebrates 75 years in 2025.
Frankfort has been recognized multiple times on Barron’s “World’s Best CEOs” list and on Institutional Investor’s “Best CEOs in America” list. He is a cofounder of Benvolio Group, an investment firm that focuses on early-stage, disruptive, consumer-facing brands. He and his wife, Bobbie, live in New York City.The book, published by Harvard Business Review Press, releases today, and is available on Amazon ($32, $16.99 Kindle), Barnes & Noble, and at most major booksellers. Follow Frankfort on Instagram/lewfrankfort.
