NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2006--Coach, Inc. (NYSE: COH), a leading marketer of modern classic American accessories, today announced the next phase of its international growth strategy which will focus on Asia, including Japan. The new plan includes a significant investment in leadership to allow Coach to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities that exists for the brand, notably in Asia.

Ian Bickley, currently President and CEO, Coach Japan, has been promoted to President, Coach International with responsibility for Coach Japan Inc. and our International Wholesale business worldwide, both in Asia and other emerging markets. During his tenure as President and CEO, Coach Japan, Mr. Bickley engineered the transition from distributor relationships to the creation of Coach Japan Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coach, Inc. Under his leadership over the last several years, the business grew fourfold, with Coach becoming the number two imported handbag and accessory brand in Japan. The company expects sales to double to over 80 billion yen by FY09.

Lew Frankfort, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Coach, Inc., said, "Ian Bickley's strong, entrepreneurial leadership skills and exceptional track record in Japan make him the ideal candidate to take our international business to the next level."

Concurrently, the company announced the appointment of a new President and CEO for Coach Japan, Victor Luis, who will report to Mr. Bickley. Mr. Luis joins Coach from Baccarat, where he is currently President and CEO, North America. Mr. Luis has extensive experience in the Japanese market, having spent 12 years there, including seven years with LVMH in a variety of luxury goods businesses, culminating in his last position, President and CEO, Givenchy Japan, Inc. Mr. Luis will be responsible for the strategic leadership and operating results of Coach Japan.

Ian Bickley said, "Victor Luis brings a unique combination of extensive luxury brand experience and deep knowledge of the Japanese marketplace. Further, his consumer marketing discipline and highly commercial orientation will be important assets in our highly entrepreneurial environment at Coach Japan. We believe he will have an immediate, positive impact to our operations in Japan."

"Coach is a brand I have always admired for its customer loyalty, product integrity and keen sense of market focus," Victor Luis stated. "As Coach marks its 65th year, the company has evolved into a compelling fashion innovation leader, while remaining true to the brand's heritage. I see great opportunity to continue the momentum and eagerly look forward to being a part of Coach's future in Japan."

As part of the initiative of accelerating global distribution, the company announced that Peter Emmerson, who held the position of President Coach International since 1999, will assume the newly created position of President, Global Business Development, reporting directly to Lew Frankfort.

Mr. Frankfort said, "Ian's new role and Victor's appointment will allow Peter to focus on one of our most important strategic initiatives; the identification of new and emerging markets for the Coach brand. Business development has long been a particular strength of Peter's and I am extremely enthusiastic about his recent successes in this area and, with this intensified focus, our prospects for growth."

"These organizational changes demonstrate Coach's deep commitment to growing our international business. It is also a reflection of the excellent efforts of Ian Bickley and Peter Emmerson, whose partnership over their Coach careers has resulted in our extraordinary growth with the Japanese consumer. I am confident that in their new roles we will continue to see momentum both within Japan and in emerging locales," concluded Mr. Frankfort.

Coach, with headquarters in New York, is a leading American marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men, including handbags, women's and men's small leathergoods, business cases, weekend and travel accessories, footwear, watches, outerwear, sunwear, and related accessories. Coach is sold worldwide through Coach stores, select department stores and specialty stores, through the Coach catalog in the U.S. by calling 1-800-223-8647 and through Coach's website at www.coach.com. Coach's shares are traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol COH.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "are positioned to," "continue," "project," "guidance," "forecast," "anticipated," or comparable terms. Future results may differ materially from management's current expectations, based upon risks and uncertainties such as expected economic trends, the ability to anticipate consumer preferences, the ability to control costs, etc. Please refer to Coach's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete list of risk factors.

CONTACT: Coach, Inc. Analysts & Media Andrea Shaw Resnick, 212-629-2618 SOURCE: Coach, Inc.