YKONE, a prominent global influencer marketing agency, has announced its acquisition of a 70% stake in Barcode, an Indian agency specializing in content and influencer marketing. By joining forces, YKONE strengthens its position as a global influencer marketing leader with an estimated turnover nearing $100 million.

Established in 2008, YKONE first launched its headquarters in Paris and now expanded to 18 major cities, from Hong Kong to Dubai to Milan. The agency has established itself as the global leader in influencer marketing
and delivering innovative campaigns for brands in the luxury, beauty, fashion, and travel sectors, and more recently in the FMCG market.

Commenting on the acquisition, Olivier Billon, Founder and CEO of YKONE, stated, “The acquisition of Barcode Agency is a significant step for YKONE and its international expansion. YKONE already had a presence in India with an office in Bangalore since 2017. With the addition of Barcode’s operations in India, YKONE’s reach in the country and the broader Asia-Pacific region expands even further.”

Rahul Khanna, Barcode’s CEO, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, “We express our heartfelt appreciation to our customers and collaborators in India. This acquisition empowers us to provide worldwide services to our Indian clientele while simultaneously promoting India’s unique narrative globally. We are very proud to join forces with YKONE’s talented teams. My ambition with Olivier is to achieve worldwide supremacy in the field of Influencer Marketing.”

This acquisition marks a strategic move that aligns with the growing opportunities in the Indian influencer market.