ryden began his career at Levi Strauss & Co., where he spent more than 25 years serving in leadership roles in sales and marketing and then regional and global supply chain organization. Bryden later became VP of operations and supply chain and eventually president for SmartWool. Subsequently, he was VP and general manager of Timberland North America and most recently, president of lucy Activewear, where he lead the entire lucy brand, from developing strategy to delivering company results.
"Hydro Flask is an exciting brand with great potential," said Bryden. "I look forward to working with the leadership team and sharing my experiences in brand building, global operations and managing growth."
Jack Gilbert, a 45-year veteran of the outdoor gear industry, started his career at The North Face, where he spent 20 years as VP of sales and marketing and as a board member. Gilbert was also general manager of outdoor retailer, president of Sierra Designs and founder of Mountain Hardwear, where he served as president for 12 years. Gilbert remained president of Mountain Hardwear for three years after its sale to Columbia Sportswear in 2003. Gilbert served on the board of Jetboil and is on the board of Simms Fishing and an advisor to Burnside Brewing Co. in Portland, OR.
"I'm a big fan of Hydro Flask. The products provide an efficient, inexpensive and green way to transport and enjoy your favorite beverages while outdoors or on the go," said Gilbert. "There are many challenges in building great outdoor brands. The Hydro Flask leadership team and board have made great progress here, and I look forward to contributing to the cause."
"We are fortunate to have two of the top outdoor industry veterans on our Advisory Board," said Scott Allan, CEO of Hydro Flask. "Mark and Jack's experience with brands like SmartWool, lucy, Mountain Hardwear, and The North Face will be highly valued as we continue to grow at Hydro Flask." Hydroflask also announced that it has become a member of The Conservation Alliance, a group of outdoor businesses giving back to the environment. The announcement was made this morning at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market taking place in Salt Lake City, UT.
The Conservation Alliance is a group of outdoor industry companies that disburses its collective annual membership dues to grassroots environmental organizations. Their mission is to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values. The Alliance was founded in 1989 by industry leaders REI, Patagonia, The North Face, and Kelty, who shared the goal of increasing outdoor industry support for conservation efforts. With more than 185 member companies, The Conservation Alliance plans to disburse $1.7 million in 2014.
