BBC Studios has brought in Gaby Dior (pictured left) and Louise Rigby (pictured right) as licensing directors to expand its consumer products business and retail strategy in the UK and EMEA.

Both execs will report to Rikesh Desai, BBC Studios’ licensing director merchandise, partnerships and interactive. They are to manage and oversee an existing portfolio that includes marquee preschool brands Bluey and Hey Duggee, as well as BBC Earth and Doctor Who. Rigby will focus on UK deals, while Dior takes on licensing operations and agent relationships across EMEA.

Rigby was previously at Fashion UK & Global Licensing for 12 years, where she worked with more than 100 brand owners, including LEGO, Disney, WB, Hasbro and Nickelodeon. In this new role, she is looking forward to driving sustainable, ethical and environmentally friendly manufacturing, according to a release.

For her part, Dior has more than 15 years of experience in the licensing industry, including stints at WildBrain CPLG and Zodiak Rights, where she focused on brands such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Sesame Street and Brown & Friends.