Edward Rogers seeks to replace five directors at Rogers Communications

Edward Rogers, chair of the family trust that controls Rogers Communications, says he intends to replace five members of the board of directors in an escalation of a boardroom fight that saw him replaced as chair of the wireless and cable company.

He wants to remove John Clappison, David Peterson, Bonnie Brooks, Ellis Jacob and John MacDonald from the Rogers board and replace them with Michael Cooper, Jack Cockwell, Jan Innes, Ivan Fecan and John Kerr.

Edward Rogers was replaced as chair of Rogers Thursday after media reports that he tried but failed to put former chief financial officer Tony Staffieri into the role of CEO and replace other members of the leadership team.

The plan to replace Rogers CEO Joe Natale was blocked by other members of the board, including Rogers’ sisters and mother, multiple reports say.

In a statement, Edward Rogers says he is disappointed with recent events and commentary regarding the governance of the company and has lost confidence in the Rogers board as currently constituted.

Edward Rogers chairs the Rogers Control Trust, which controls Rogers through its class A voting shares, while the trust also includes other family members and an advisory committee.

The control trust chair acts as the representative of the controlling shareholder and votes the class A voting shares.

The vice-chair, Melinda Rogers-Hixon, assists the chair and both are accountable to the advisory committee.

Rogers Communication says the company is not aware of this mechanism ever having been utilized in respect of a public company in Canada.

“At this time, the Company has not received any documentation or resolution from Mr. Rogers or the Rogers Control Trust with respect to this matter. If and when received, the Company will consult with its counsel regarding the legality of this course of action,” the company said in a statement released Friday.

“The Company’s CEO, Joe Natale, and management team remain steadfast in their commitment to driving the performance of the business and executing on the proposed merger with Shaw.”

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