TORONTO – Garfield Emerson, the chair of the Rogers Communications Inc. board of directors, is resigning as chairman after 13 years in the position, the company announced today.
Emerson, who is also stepping down as a director, is being replaced by Alan Horn, currently RCI’s chief financial officer, as a director and the chair of the board. Horn will be replaced as CFO by Bill Linton, who is currently Rogers’ executive vice president.
RCI also announced that current board member Peter Godsoe will become the board’s lead director.
Ted Rogers paid tribute to Emerson. “Gar has been an excellent chairman and has provided great leadership including in the important area of corporate governance,” Rogers said in a statement.
Emerson was appointed to the RCI board in 1989 and became chair in April 1993. “I am pleased with the progress of the company over that time,” Emerson said. “Now is an appropriate time to pursue other endeavours as a corporate director. Ted and the Rogers team deserve to be congratulated for the fine work that they are doing in developing a national communications and media business.”
Horn joined Rogers in 1990 as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Rogers private companies. In 1996 he became CFO of RCI. “Over his lengthy tenure with Rogers, Alan has gained an in-depth knowledge of all of our businesses while commanding the respect of the members of our board and management team,” said Rogers.
Linton has served as CFO of both Rogers Wireless and Rogers Cable in the past and was Chief Executive Officer of Call-Net Enterprises Inc. before it was acquired by RCI in July 2005. “Bill’s deep understanding of our businesses and his proven financial and operational track record make him an outstanding CFO for Rogers,” Rogers said.
Godsoe is the former Chairman and CEO of Scotiabank and a director and chairman of several other major corporations.
