Copyright Promotions Licensing Group, part of DHX Media, is extending its reach to include the Middle East, Turkey and Greece, adding to its recent expansions in the Nordics and Central and Eastern Europe. 

CPLG is combining two existing businesses, FWD Licensing and License2Brand, to form CPLG MENA and CPLG Turkey and Greece, respectively.

“We are now able to offer a true EMEA solution to our licensors, maximizing opportunities across the region, with in-depth local expertise,” says Steve Manners, executive vice president, CPLG. “Both Abdel and Anthe are a perfect fit within our culture and embrace CPLG’s ethos of expert common sense.”

Abdel Boazzati, managing director of FWD Branding, will join forces with CPLG to establish CPLG MENA in Dubai, collaborating between FWD Middle East and CPLG. Abdel is a Warner Bros and emerging markets veteran who has worked extensively in the Middle East, as one of the pioneers in the business. He joins CPLG MENA as managing director.

Anthe Louizos, previously managing director of License2Brand and a former Disney executive, has considerable experience building brands in both Greece and Turkey and joins as Managing Director CPLG Turkey and Greece. Anthe will continue to be based in Athens, Greece.

“Both Abdel and Anthe have extensive brand building experience in their respective regions," says Peter Byrne, chief executive officer, CPLG. “We have not only added some great brands to our portfolio but have also brought in-house two of the best executives in their field who really understand their markets and have the vision to grow into new areas under the CPLG umbrella. This further consolidates our position as the leading licensing agency across the western hemisphere.”