Active lifestyle marketing agency Rygr has appointed Melissa Hlidek as president.
“A seasoned growth marketing executive with over 15 years of leadership experience across agencies and top-tier brands, Hlidek brings deep strategic expertise and a proven track record of operational excellence to her new role,” the agency wrote in a media release.
Hlidek most recently served as director of growth marketing at Saks Global, where she led media strategy for Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Previously, she served as senior manager of Paid Media at The North Face. Earlier in her career, Hlidek spent six years at Backbone, Rygr’s partner agency, rising from senior media planner to senior director. During her tenure, she reportedly “drove strategic business development, collaborated across disciplines, guided operational improvements, co-led a team of 30, and utilized integrated marketing strategies to achieve client objectives.”
“We know Melissa well from her time at Backbone, and we are thrilled to have her rejoin our network of agencies at the helm of Rygr. Melissa will bring energy and expertise to Rygr’s clients,” said Nate Simmons, co-CEO, Backbone and Rygr. “Her deep agency roots, paired with invaluable brand-side experience, uniquely position her to drive impact across our team and client partnerships. We’re energized about the future with Melissa.”
As president, Hlidek will reportedly “lead the agency’s business strategy, manage cross-functional teams and guide client success and financial performance.” The agency noted she will work closely with Rygr’s director team to “scale capabilities and position the agency for long-term growth.”
“Rygr has a strong foundation and a talented team already in place,” said Hlidek. “I’m excited to build on that momentum, channeling the team’s expertise to meet evolving market needs, sharpening our strategic focus, and driving meaningful, sustainable growth. And we’ll absolutely have some fun along the way.”
Hlidek replaces Brian Holcombe, who co-founded Rygr in 2016 and assumed the role of president in 2023. The company stated that Holcombe’s nine-year tenure “significantly contributed to Rygr’s strong foundation, culture and client portfolio.” The agency expressed its deep gratitude for his “leadership and lasting contributions and wishes him continued success in his next chapter.”
Images courtesy Rygr, LinkedIn
