Rival Expands Global Marketing with Acquisition of London's OAT Design Studio

Jul. 23, 2025

Rival, the fully integrated international marketing consultancy with offices in London, Boston, and Cape Town, announces the strategic acquisition of OAT Studio, an acclaimed London-based design firm. This move significantly enhances Rival's capabilities in delivering holistic, high-impact marketing solutions that drive tangible growth and disruption for global brands.

OAT Studio, renowned for its innovative design approach, has spent the last three years collaborating with prestigious clients across industries, earning recognition for projects that blend creative excellence with measurable business outcomes. The studio’s expertise spans comprehensive brand identity development, design systems, packaging, and digital experiences.

Eric Fulwiler, CEO of Rival said:

"We were looking for something unique. Not just great designers, but designers that thought about design as an essential driver of differentiation and growth. With OAT Studio—now Rival Design—we're poised to set a new standard in the industry."

 

The acquisition allows Rival to fully integrate OAT Studio's proven design expertise into its existing world-class strategic, creative production, and paid media offerings. This synergy enables Rival to offer end-to-end marketing solutions tailored specifically for brands committed to meaningful market impact.

Owen Phillips-Walmsley, Co-Founder of OAT Studio said:

"Joining Rival represents an exciting new chapter, where we can deliver more impact with the visual systems we’re able to provide. Rival shares our belief that impactful design is essential for lasting growth, and that’s what we want to create; brands that last, that go the distance."

 

Rival's roster already includes industry leaders such as Webflow, Xerox, JPMorgan, Reebok, Unilever, Tumblr, NASCAR, and Keurig Dr Pepper, highlighting the consultancy's track record of driving outsized growth for both challenger and incumbent brands alike.

Tim Cawley, Chief Creative Officer at Rival, noted:

"The creative department I want to build at Rival is a place where exceptional talent comes and does the best work of their careers. That's what Tori and Owen would bring to the table. That's why I'm psyched to add them to the team."