Award-winning global independent animation studio ZAG has promoted its top LatAm consumer products executive Angela Cortez to oversee the company’s Canadian consumer products business. The announcement was made today by Jeremy Zag, Founder and CEO, ZAG.
Serving as VP, Licensing & Retail, Latin America and Canada, Angela Cortez is tasked with growing the presence of ZAG in the Canadian market–in addition to her existing role–partnering with broadcasters, licensees, and retailers across Canada to build the company’s brands and reach both English and French-language consumers. The initial focus will be on Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, and Ghostforce. Cortez reports to Julian Zag, the company’s EVP, Global Operations and Head of Consumer Products.
Cortez will focus on developing and implementing a 360 strategy for the region to generate brand visibility and maximize product revenues. With a “glocal” strategy, Cortez will work closely with the company’s master toy partner, Playmates, alongside other current licensees who hold Canadian consumer products’ rights, as well as signing new local licensing partners for key categories such as publishing, apparel, accessories, food and beverage, sports, health and beauty, domestics, party goods, and stationery. Cortez will also create exclusive retail events and other promotions to create compelling consumer initiatives that will engage fans and maximize product purchases.
“Since joining the company in March last year, Angela has done an incredible job growing our brands across the Latin America region,” commented Jeremy Zag. “We have incredible content that is loved by families across the globe, and Angela’s enthusiasm, relationships, and creative approach to developing strong promotions and retail events has ensured that fans have multiple ways to experience our brands.”
“With strong demand across Canada for flagship brand Miraculous, there is great potential for us to grow our brands across the country,” explains Cortez. “With an exceptional broadcast platform reaching our target audiences, now is the ideal time to ramp up our efforts in this vast market – in fact Canada is the 9th largest economy in the world – with a glocal strategy, that is, we will support our global partners, and sign local Canadian partners to grow our presence and engage our fans.”
ZAG has strong placement for its content across the region. Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is available six days a week on Family Channel, with season five debuting this past October; on the weekends on Tele-Quebec; and seasons 1–4 stream on Netflix. And Ghostforce is available every Saturday on Disney XD, and weekends on Tele-Quebec.
Cortez joined ZAG in March of 2021. She has more than 30 years of experience in licensing and retail most recently serving for 12 years for Viacom Brasil Networks and VIMN, where she rose through the ranks from Licensing Director in Brazil, to VP of South America and Central America, and in the last year, to Vice President for the LATAM region where she restructured and integrated the entire LatAm team. Prior, she worked for seven years for Warner Bros. South Inc. as Licensing Director following a two-year stint with Hopi Hari S/A, the second largest amusement park in Brazil. She started her career at the retail chain Wal-Mart Brasil S/A as manager of softlines, babyclothing and accessories. In her career, Cortez has developed licensing programs for several leading brands in the region, including The Powerpuff Girls, Pucca, The Backyardigans, and PAW Patrol.