What’s next for Rogers board and Rogers Control Trust after death of Loretta Rogers

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After the death of Rogers family matriarch Loretta Rogers this past weekend, one corporate governance expert says it would be wise for Rogers Communications Inc. to wait until its $26-billion deal with Shaw Communications Inc. closes before making any decisions on who will take her spot.

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York University professor of governance and law Richard LeBlanc says the company should take a “thoughtful” approach when deciding how to fill Loretta Rogers’ seats on the company’s board and on the advisory committee of the Rogers Control Trust.

He says it will want to avoid another public governance spat similar to the very dramatic family power struggle that played out last year.

LeBlanc says the spots are likely to be filled by the same person, who could be an independent director unrelated to the family or a family member who has the confidence of both factions of the Rogers family.

The Rogers Control Trust, which consists largely of Rogers family members, is an entity that holds voting control of the company and decides who makes up the separate board of directors.

Loretta Rogers was the widow of company founder Ted Rogers, who died in 2008.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:RCI.B, TSX:SJR.B)