Who we are
At River, we don't wait for the brief –
we rewrite the rulebook.
When others say “That’s not possible”, we say: "What's the deadline?" We don’t follow convention – we challenge it. Because your brand doesn’t need more noise. It needs bold, tailored, high-impact thinking that differentiates you in your vertical, and of course, gets measurable ROI.
Our agile model means we move fast, think smart and deliver bespoke solutions that flex with your changing needs and your audience.
We don’t just connect with people. We make them act. Click, share, buy, sign up, show up...
Whatever your goal, in whatever channel, we make it happen.
Our offices
In need of a collaborative, friendly workspace in the creative district of London? Then we'd love you to pop into our bright, buzzy offices in Farringdon.
A fiercely independent and privately owned agency, we're a welcoming work hub that offers lunch & learns and a wide range of workshops. With continuous mentoring from peers and colleagues, we're always championing each other's skill sets, so everyone feels a deep respect and understanding.
Plus we're in close proximity to clients, lunch spots and the Tube. Lastly, we’re proudly dog-friendly too – because we understand the logistics of life can always do with a doggy snuggle.
What is it that makes River so special?
Powered by women
All of River’s division MDs are female – bringing sharp commercial instinct, creative flair and deep empathy to every challenge.
Challenging convention
We don’t follow formulas. We challenge the norm, push creative boundaries and always, always put your audience at the heart.
Designed to connect
Whether it’s TVC, social, editorial, video, influencer or branded content, everything we create is designed to connect – and convert.
We could be outright bold and say we’re not just a content agency – we’re strategic creative thinkers who know how to move the needle. But more than that, we're the relationships agency. With you, our audience and with our own teams.
Building on those relationships, we combine audience-first insight with bold, people-led ideas to create content that earns attention and drives action. Our team of strategists, marketers, creatives, writers and producers bring agility, energy and fresh thinking to every brief - working as an extension of your team to build trust and solve real business problems. We’re proud to work with some of Europe's most customer-obsessed brands, helping them keep their audiences informed, inspired and coming back for more.
We don’t just tell stories.
We create the kind of content that makes people stop, feel, act – and ultimately, share.
The very best kind of advocacy.
Founder's Story:
Nicola Murphy
With a vision to challenge convention and create real change, Nicki founded
The River Group 31 years ago in 1994.
A marketer by trade, she started her career at Procter & Gamble before becoming an entrepreneur. Under her leadership, River has grown into one of the UK’s most respected content and through-the-line agencies. Maven and Reflect make up the group.
Beyond River, Nicki is a committed mentor of women in business and an active voice on LinkedIn. She is a recognised industry leader – serving on the global FIPP exec board for nearly six years to date. In addition, she is one of 20 Forever Founders of women's network FFinc.
Nicki is also Founder or Co-Founder of nine active businesses in total, in several verticals including PR, beauty, art, coaching and property.
She’s also a passionate philanthropist, championing causes including the Katie Piper Foundation (she is Co-Patron after 10 years' tenure), the Sophie Hayes Foundation (Nicki is Chair of Trustees), Dogs Trust and other humanitarian initiatives. Plus, Nicki founded Thea's Fund, a more recent initiative to support a former colleague's family.
All this proves that great business isn’t just about growth, but giving back too. Point her in the direction of another marathon or Hyrox and she's happy.
We're not really sure when she sleeps…
Our team
Nicola Murphy
Group Chief Executive Officer
The Founder of The River Group 30 years ago, with interests in several other businesses and agencies, Nicki is a marketer by trade. She’s passionate about marketing. Prior to founding River, she had an extensive career in this field, which involved working in magazines and, before that, six years at Procter & Gamble. Nicki is also an active board member of FIPP, a keen supporter of the PPA, a member of the Marketing Society and a five-year director and trustee of the Katie Piper Foundation.
Rachel Middlewick
Managing Director
Rachel has led a range of media and content portfolios as well as transformation projects - from within Haymarket and Hearst, to a stint as Chief Commercial Officer at PA Media, and as a consultant for FT Strategies. She leads multi-disciplinary teams and develops content products that connect with their audience and generate strong revenues. Experienced across both business and consumer, she has worked within a wide range of sectors including retail, sports, membership, professional services, culture and travel.
Nigel Mackay
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Nigel has been River’s production director for 22 years and still gets excited by the smell of ink on paper. But only on Tuesday evenings. He has an in-depth knowledge of printing techniques, producing everything from books and direct mail to magazines and POS, not to mention expertise in paper sourcing and data management, plus astute buying skills.
Scott McKenzie
GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Scott has more than 20 years’ experience, using an integrated creative approach to enable brands to have an authentic and meaningful connection with their core audience. From static through to moving creative, Scott thrives on igniting creative solutions across health and lifestyle through to business, finance and tech arenas. Previous clients include Sainsbury’s, Ocado, John Lewis, Morrisons, Hello Fresh, Savills, Fujitsu, Institute of Directors and Vitality Insurance.
Gavin Love
GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR
Gavin worked in a wide range of companies, including travel agents, retail and professional services, before moving into the agency world. Qualifying as an accountant along the way, he has helped deliver financial direction, control and support to businesses in Melbourne and London. He also has a keen interest in all things hackable, creating and installing his own ad blocker to live under the stairs at home and programming his own talking Google Home-like speaker.
Phil Tristram
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Phil has worked as a designer in magazines and newspapers for over 30 years, and since 1995 he has served as creative director for River. Quite simply, he’s a bit of a legend.
Chris Ward
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
Chris is your original entrepreneurial polymath and problem-solver. He’s spent more than 35 years in the world of brand-building, advertising, service innovation and the data-driven personal communications industry in both the UK and USA. He's worked with global network companies, start-ups and scale-ups, including setting up and building five companies of his own. He’s now Chief Revenue Officer at River and has set up the Business Consulting Unit to bring business transformation projects to market for clients manoeuvring through an increasingly complex landscape and difficult trading environment.
New generation PR solutions.
A diverse and inclusive marketing and talent sourcing agency, Reflect is also a Community Interest Company.
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