TORONTO – When retirement beckons Ted Rogers in 2008, don’t look for him to put his feet up and rest, but to roll up his sleeves and keep working.
When asked today about Rogers Communications Inc.’s succession plans, Rogers said: “I feel great. My program is that June 30th, 2008, my contract as CEO comes up for termination or renewal – I don’t intend to renew it.”
There have been many executive shuffles through the years at RCI, with several rising stars cited as the one who would ultimately succeed Ted (most recently, former cable head John Tory, who left to run the Ontario Conservative Party). However, with former wireless unit chief Nadir Mohammed now the proud owner of a new position overseeing both cable and wireless, it appears he’s the front-runner for the CEO’s chair in three years’ time.
“I think it’s important that we have change in the organization. We’re already moving very, very much in that direction as you noticed from appointments we’ve made,” said Rogers.
But, this is a family-controlled business after all, so don’t discount the two Rogerses in the executive suites: Cable president Edward and RCI’s vice-president strategic planning and venture investments, Melinda.
“I’m very proud of the two young Rogers in the business,” said their father.
But, even when Ted steps down as CEO, don’t look for him to vacate his office. “Even though I’ll retire as CEO, I hope to stay, if the good Lord wills – Bill Gates has got some fancy title (at Microsoft) – so I would call myself chief futurist or something like that,” Rogers predicted.
“I thought you were going to say you’re already that anyway,” quipped Mohammed.
