Who owns Oban now? (Spoiler: We do)

At Oban, we’ve always believed that people make the difference – not just in our work, but in the way we run our business. Becoming an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) felt like the obvious next step.

This isn’t just a change of structure. It’s a shift in mindset. It means the people who power our work every day now have a real stake in where we’re headed. It means our team owns a share of the business, and with it, a stronger voice in shaping our future.

We’ve always been proud of our independence. Becoming employee-owned builds on that spirit – ensuring an open, inclusive company where success is shared and decisions are made with the long term in mind.

A new chapter for Oban

Since 2002, we’ve helped brands grow internationally by understanding the things that often get overlooked – language subtleties, online behaviours, buying cues, cultural assumptions. Our unique LIME Network (Local In-Market Experts)  gives us access to on-the-ground insights that many agencies miss – and our clients know how powerful that can be.

Now, we’re doubling down on what makes us different. The EOT model gives our team more visibility, more influence, and a greater connection to the work we do. It strengthens the foundations that support our services – SEO, paid media, UX, content marketing, and digital PR – and gives our clients even more reason to trust the thinking behind them.

“Our people are the heart of everything we do. Becoming an EOT isn’t just a structural change, but a commitment to shared purpose and shared success. It means everyone gets a real voice in shaping where we go next.”
– Sarah Jennings, CEO

“It’s right that our team has a say in where we’re headed. We’ve always thought long term — now the business reflects that clearly.”
– Suzie Oakford, Managing Director

What is an Employee Ownership Trust?

An Employee Ownership Trust allows a business to be owned – in whole or in part – by its employees via a trust structure. One of the most well-known employee owned businesses in the UK is the John Lewis Partnership.

The principle is simple: if employees share in a company’s success, they become more invested in that success. That leads to higher engagement, longer-term thinking, and better outcomes – not just for employees, but for clients and partners too.

A refreshed look for a new era

Alongside this change, we’ve updated our brand identity. It’s still recognisably Oban – just more modern, confident, and clear. We’ve evolved how we present ourselves to reflect more accurately who we are today: a team with global reach, deep expertise, and a sharp eye for the small things that make a big difference.

The brand refresh signals our intent: to keep pushing forward, staying smart and specific in everything we do – for our clients, our people, and our shared future.

What this means for you

For our clients and partners, it’s business as usual – only better. You’ll still get the same expert thinking, grounded in real local insight. The same careful attention to the details that matter. But now, you’ll also benefit from a team that’s  even more motivated, more connected, and more invested.

We’re proud of what we’ve built and even more excited about where we’re going. If you’d like to know more about our journey to employee ownership – or how we can help your business grow internationally – let’s talk.