Annabelle Yu Long
TAPESTRYAbout Annabelle Yu Long
Annabelle Yu Long, age 52, has served as an independent director of Tapestry since 2016. She is Founding and Managing Partner of BAI Capital (2021–present) and has deep China consumer, media, and investment experience; she holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China) and an MBA from Stanford GSB . In the 2025 proxy, she is listed as independent with no standing committee assignments; the Board disclosed each incumbent director attended at least 75% of Board/committee meetings in FY2025 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bertelsmann China Corporate Center | Chief Executive Officer | 2008–2020 | Led China market strategy; appointed to Bertelsmann Group Management Committee in 2011 . |
| Bertelsmann Asia Investments | Managing Partner | 2008–2020 | Track record investing in digital/lifestyle companies . |
| Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments & Asia Media Development | Executive roles | 2007 | Digital/media investing and development . |
| Bertelsmann Entrepreneur Program | Participant | 2004–2006 | Entrepreneurial leadership development . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIO Inc. | Director (U.S.-listed) | Current | Listed among current U.S.-listed public boards . |
| LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. | Director (U.S.-listed) | Current | Listed among current U.S.-listed public boards . |
| The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited | Independent Director | Current | Disclosed as other experience . |
| Linmon Media Limited | Former Independent Director | Prior | Disclosed as former role . |
| China Venture Capital and Private Equity Association | Governor | Current | Industry association leadership . |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent director . |
| TPR Board tenure | Director since 2016 . |
| Committee assignments (FY2025) | None; not on Audit, Human Resources (Compensation), or Governance & Nominations . |
| Board meeting attendance | Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of meetings of the Board and committees on which they served (FY2025) . |
| Meeting counts (FY2025) | Board: 6; Audit: 4; HR (Comp): 5; GN: 4 . |
| Lead Independent/Chair | Anne Gates serves as Independent Chair; positions of Chair and CEO are separated . |
| Skills matrix highlights | Investment, Global/International, Technology/Digital/E-commerce, Governance; retail/consumer experience . |
Fixed Compensation
| Element | FY2024 ($) | FY2025 ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic annual retainer | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Cash in lieu of equity (China regulatory constraint) | 170,000 | 200,000 |
| Committee chair/membership fees | — (no committee roles) | — (no committee roles) |
| Total cash paid (reported) | 270,000 | 300,000 |
| RSUs/Options grant date value | — (none; cash in lieu) | — (none; cash in lieu) |
Notes:
- Company policy: RSUs vest one year from grant for other independent directors; Ms. Long receives cash equal to targeted fair value one year after each annual meeting due to China equity regulations .
- Equity grant value increased and options eliminated starting Nov 2024; target raised from $170,000 to $200,000, moving total director pay to peer-median; Ms. Long’s cash-in-lieu mirrors this change .
Performance Compensation
| Component | Performance Metrics | Vesting/Timing | FY2025 Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (standard program for other directors) | None (time-based, no performance conditions) | Vest in full 1 year from grant | N/A for Long (receives cash in lieu) |
| Cash in lieu of equity (Long) | None (fixed target value) | Paid 1 year post annual meeting | 200,000 |
There are no disclosed performance metrics (e.g., TSR, EBITDA, ESG) tied to non-employee director compensation; Ms. Long’s compensation is entirely cash-based due to regulatory constraints .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| External Board | Sector | Potential Interlock/Conflict with TPR |
|---|---|---|
| NIO Inc. | Automotive/EV | No direct customer/supplier linkage disclosed; different industry . |
| LexinFintech Holdings Ltd. | Fintech | No direct customer/supplier linkage disclosed; different industry . |
| HSBC (HK) | Banking | No related-party transactions disclosed involving Ms. Long . |
| Linmon Media Limited (former) | Media/Entertainment | Former role; no current interlock . |
Compensation Committee interlocks: Company disclosed no compensation committee interlocks/insider participation affecting governance; HR Committee members are independent and no cross-board officer conflicts were noted (general disclosure) .
Expertise & Qualifications
- China consumer, media, and digital investment expertise; global/international perspective; governance and technology/e-commerce oversight capabilities per Board skills matrix .
- Education: BS Electrical Engineering (UESTC, China) and MBA (Stanford GSB) .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned (Aug 31, 2025) | — (less than 1% of class) . |
| RSUs held (FY2025 year-end) | None; unlike other independent directors who held 3,509 unvested RSUs . |
| Options | None listed for Ms. Long; other directors had outstanding options per proxy . |
| Stock ownership guideline | 5x basic annual retainer; Board waived the guideline for Ms. Long due to China equity regulations . |
| Pledging/Hedging | No pledging disclosures involving Ms. Long; not indicated in ownership table . |
Insider Trades
| Date | Form 4 Action | Shares | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | No insider transaction data disclosed in proxy; beneficial ownership shows no TPR shares; Ms. Long receives cash in lieu of equity . |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent since 2016; relevant skills in investment, global markets, and digital/e-commerce; Board reports ≥75% attendance compliance among incumbents; no disclosed related-party transactions involving her .
- Alignment considerations: She holds no TPR equity due to regulatory constraints; Board explicitly waived stock ownership guidelines—this reduces traditional “skin-in-the-game” alignment versus peers who receive RSUs and hold shares .
- Compensation mix: 100% cash (retainer + cash in lieu of equity); Y/Y increase from $270k (FY2024) to $300k (FY2025) driven by program shift to $200k equity target, paid in cash for Long; no performance-conditioned pay elements for directors .
RED FLAGS:
- Waived stock ownership policy and zero share ownership at FY2025 year-end reduce ownership alignment versus other independent directors who hold RSUs/options .
- Not serving on committees limits direct oversight contributions (Audit/Comp/GN) relative to peers with chair/member roles; engagement should be monitored via attendance and Board activities .