TORONTO – Rogers Communications announced this afternoon that Alan Horn will step down as chair of the board of directors effective January 1, 2018.
Edward Rogers, son of late company founder Ted Rogers and currently deputy chair, will replace Horn. Melinda Rogers, one of Ted’s three daughters, will assume the role of deputy chair.
Horn (the long-time RCI CFO and the man who served as interim CEO in between Guy Laurence and current CEO Joe Natale) will remain president and CEO of Rogers Telecommunications Limited and certain private companies that control RCI, and will stay on the RCI board.
"The company is in great shape, there is great momentum in the business and the company is being led by an outstanding CEO in Joe Natale," said Horn, in the late Thursday press release. "This is the right time for the board to make the planned transition of the chair's role to Edward."
Edward Rogers is chair of the Rogers Control Trust, as well as the Rogers Bank and the Toronto Blue Jays. He sits on the board of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, CableLabs and the Toronto Sick Kids Foundation. He previously spent 20 years in management at Rogers in various roles, including president of Rogers Cable, reads the press release.
"On behalf of the board and the entire Rogers team, I would like to thank Alan for his terrific leadership as our chair," said Edward Rogers in that release. "I look forward to working with the board to support Joe and the management team as they deliver on the strategic vision for Rogers."
Melinda is the vice-chair of the Rogers Control Trust and is founder of Rogers Venture Partners. She is also chair of the Jays Care Foundation and of the board of Texture by Next Issue Media. She sits on the advisory council of the Rotman School of Management and is an international board member at Right To Play. She previously spent 15 years in management at Rogers Communications, including senior vice president of strategy and development. Prior to that she worked in Silicon Valley in the technology services space.
"Alan has been a great advisor and support to both me and the management team. I look forward to continuing to work with Edward, Melinda and the rest of the RCI Board along with the entire Rogers team to write the next chapter in the company's history,” added Natale in the release.
