Freeform Head Of Marketing Nigel Cox-Hagan Exits

Nigel Cox-Hagan, Freeform’s SVP Marketing, Creative and Branding, is leaving the company after 2 1/2 years. A search is underway for his replacement.

After joining then-ABC Family in October 2014, Cox-Hagan spearheaded the network’s rebranding as Freeform. He led all marketing activities across multiple platforms. In a memo, Freeform president Tom Ascheim said he and Cox-Hagan, who will stay on for a few more weeks, had been discussing Cox-Hagan’s decision to depart for the last few months and opted to share the news after the network was done with its upfront presentations and had locked in its summer launches. (You can read the memo in its entirety below.)

Previously, Cox-Hagan served as EVP Creative and Consumer for VH1 Networks. He also oversaw the rebrands of sub networks VH1 Classic and VH1 Soul. Additionally, he took on branding and launch projects for MTV Networks, serving as creative director for Logo, Palladia and Centric.

Prior to his stint at VH1, Cox-Hagan was Director of On-Air Promotion and Graphic Design at G4. He also did a series of branding projects for Nickelodeon, BET, Syfy and the entertainment/video game hub UGO. Cox-Hagan began his career in 1991 at MTV, where he rose to become the senior promo producer and creative director until his departure in 1998. During his time at the network, Cox-Hagan led the team that oversaw the launch of MTV2 and stayed on to head the network’s creative department.

Here is Ascheim’s memo:

Dear Freeform:

It’s with decidedly mixed feelings that I write to you today with the news that after almost three years our friend and colleague, Nigel Cox Hagen, has decided to move on.

As you know, he is an enormously talented and creative marketing professional. He’s also lots of fun, innovative and has a prodigious knowledge of pop culture. We and I will be forever grateful to him for his many contributions to our company, including birthing our Freeform brand (and it was not an easy labor), leading the charge on our first three upfronts (each better than the last), launching innumerable shows with stunning and thoughtful campaigns, and being a true champion for his team and their work.

Nigel and I have been talking for the past few months about when and how to share the news about his decision. He wanted to get us through the upfront and get us set for the summer launches. Mission clearly accomplished and now we send him off to make something beautiful and extraordinary in his next adventure. I for one look forward to seeing what he creates.

Nigel will be with us in the office for the next couple of weeks and then will be advising me for a while. In the interim we will be moving quickly to find someone great to fill Nigel’s role. I hope to be back to you soon with news.

Please join me in thanking Nigel virtually. We will have a proper send-off soon.

Tom