The Independents continues to extend its range of brand communication expertise in the luxury, fashion, beauty and lifestyle sectors. The group, which describes itself as “the world’s leading group” in these sectors, has announced the acquisition of Dubai-based agency Bureau Béatrice.

Bureau Béatrice was founded in 2021 by Kevin Alderweireldt and Jon S. Maloy, and specialises in digital and multimedia creativity. Since its inception, it has collaborated with several international names such as Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Prada, Richard Mille, Swarovski, MAC Cosmetics and L’Oréal.

The Independents is a global communication group that includes Atelier Athem, Atelier Lum, Bureau Betak & Bureau Future, CTZAR, Inca Productions, Karla Otto, K2, Kennedy, Lefty, Prodject, Sunshine and The Qode. Acquiring Bureau Béatrice enables to group to have a direct presence in 12 countries, strengthening its position in the Middle East. “The Middle East is an extremely important growth market for the luxury and lifestyle sectors that brands must approach with the right message and guided by local experts,” said Isabelle Chouvet, CEO of The Independents, in a statement. “Bureau Béatrice’s creativity and innovative approach to transforming stories into unforgettable experiences through a tech approach will deepen our offer in the region, while providing The Independents with new expertise we can share globally,” she added. 

The value of the acquisition was not revealed. The Independents currently has offices in Milan, Paris, London, Munich, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah. In 2023, the group raised $400 million in a funding round with FL Entertainment (Banijay) and TowerBrook Capital Partners. The stated objective was to double the size of the group by 2025, notably through acquisitions. The Independents was then forecasting a 2023 revenue of $450 million.