Ted Rogers passes away at age 75
Today is a truly sad day in telecommunications. One of its longest serving CEOs, Edward Samuel “Ted” Rogers, has passed away at the age of 75. Long suffering from congestive heart failure, Rogers was admitted to the hospital in early November and eventually discharged to the care of his family with Alan Horn taking the role of interim CEO. Unfortunately, Rogers passed away early this morning in his Toronto home but thankfully he was surrounded by friends and family.
The official statement from Rogers is available after the break.
It is with great sadness that the Board of Directors of Rogers Communications Inc. announces the death of our colleague, leader and friend, Edward Samuel “Ted” Rogers, the founder of the company, a visionary communications industry pioneer and an icon in Canadian business. He was 75.
Mr. Rogers, known for his indefatigable drive, built Rogers Communications into a Canadian and North American leader in wireless telecommunications, cable television, broadcasting, publishing and more. Mr. Rogers’ name is synonymous with innovative, high-quality communications products across Canada, products that improved and simplified the everyday lives of Canadians.
“We wish to express our deepest sympathy to Loretta and all of the Rogers family for this loss,” said Alan Horn, Chairman of Rogers Communications and acting CEO. “Ted Rogers was one of a kind who built this company from one FM radio station into Canada’s largest wireless, cable and media company. A leader also in giving to the community through his and Loretta’s many philanthropic initiatives. He will be sadly missed.”
Phil Lind, Rogers Vice-Chairman, worked alongside Mr. Rogers for almost 40 years. “Our sincerest condolences to Loretta, the children and the grandchildren. He will be missed by so many. Though Ted was relentless in business and building this company over the years, he was also very much a family man. His impact on family, community and country was as impressive as his business success,” Mr. Lind said.
Mr. Rogers, who suffered from congestive heart failure, saw his health weaken over the past few years. He was surrounded by loved ones when he died at his home in Toronto.
Mr. Rogers’ successor as Chief Executive Officer will be addressed by the Rogers Communications Inc. Board of Directors which intends to form a special committee to lead a search considering internal and external candidates. In the meantime, Alan Horn, Chairman of Rogers Communications Inc., will continue to serve as acting Chief Executive Officer and lead the company’s office of the president.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family.
Rest in peace, Uncy Ted.
Tags: death, Rogers Wireless, Ted Rogers
Rogers (The company) has sympathy and compassion?
Wow, you wouldn’t be able to tell that from their business practices.
Permalink | Reply
While I’m sure that comment is not completely undeserved, I think the focus needs to stay on Mr. Rogers’ passing. May he rest in peace.
Permalink | Reply
Sad to hear the guy pass away and all, but does this mean the shameless price gouging will stop? I’m sure there are a lot of Rogers customers that will find a way to not shed any tears over this turn of events, at the very least.
Permalink | Reply
Agreed. May he rest in peace. The legacy will live on!
Permalink | Reply
@ Albert and MadMike- You guys are Dicks. You have a choice, you could’ve gone with Bell or Telus! You aren’t a slave to their practices. I hate Verizon, I switched to AT&T its pretty simple.
Permalink | Reply
The thing about Rogers price gouging is that you dont have to pay it.. cell phoens are not something you need to live. RIP
Permalink | Reply
Don’t get me wrong. Anybody passing away, especially after a long battle with deteriorating health is a sad affair.
The point I was making is that the company had released a statement that it had sympathy and compassion, when their daily business dealings clearly show quite the opposite.
I am not against making money. I am very much a capitalist. However, they take it just way too far. They either A.) have some really nasty overhead to compensate for or B.) They are a bunch of soul-less assholes. I tend however, to lean toward believing the latter more than the former.
Permalink | Reply
OK I actually misread your first comment where you singled out the company.
Permalink | Reply
@Ralph: I’m not even Canadian. I’m American and I am quite happy with my cellular service pricing. My quality of cellular service, however is a love-hate thing.
Permalink | Reply
May he rest in peace. However, condemning his company on the day of his passing is not necessary. Whether they show compassion or not has nothing to do with their business practices. If someone fires their brother or relative from their company, that does not mean that they do not have compassion, it’s just business. The brother might be bad for the business side of the relationship but that does not mean that they do not love them. You can’t confuse the two. Corporations at times are ruthless but you never know what the personality of that CEO is until you know them. Most of the time the decisions being made are not even theirs, there is an entire board you know.
Permalink | Reply
It’s always sad when someone passes away.
But I must say I was/am no fan of Ted Rogers and it has nothing to do with his telecommunications company. His ultimate goal was to pull the Buffalo Bills out of Western New York and hopefully now they have a better chance at staying put where they belong.
Permalink | Reply
RIP
Permalink | Reply
ScottyC, Buffalo doesn’t deserve the bills because the city’s economy and population is so crappy it can’t support them, it has nothing to do with Rogers. If it were not for his efforts the team would relocate 2000 miles away not a mere 45 minutes drive away.
Permalink | Reply
How sad and predictable that so many soul-less anonymous internet assholes wouldn’t miss a beat and crack insensitive comments like they have. Thank god these retards don’t have the same balls in real life where they are accountable for their words and actions. I guess you have to take the bad parts of the internet with the good, right?
Permalink | Reply
I can’t say I knew him, but everything I knew about him from Roger’s employees was negative.
Permalink | Reply
Like any you guys truly care if Ted Rogers passed away or not, it doesn’t affect any of us reading BGR, he was just a man in the end and deserves to rest in peace and not be slandered, especially by people bashing his company, he didn’t make you sign for 3 yrs you were just to cheap to buy the phone out right…….
Permalink | Reply
@Richard
Actually, the team sold more season tickets for this current season and the previous season than they did even in the mid-90s. Luxury suite sales were also up. Every single game is a sellout. The people and the economy are not at fault. But we can face the facts that a team here will not make the kind of money that teams like the Patriots or the Cowboys will make. We just need new ownership here who can make the team into a viable business that has success both on and off the field.
Permalink | Reply
Out of respect for the recently deceased we ask that you please keep negative/ignorant/childish comments and opinions to yourself.
To get behind the anonymous veil of the internet and speak ill of someone who has just passed is truly shameful.
The passing of Mr Rogers is a truly sad occurrence. Please remember that Mr Rogers was not only someones son and husband, but he was also a father of four. In addition to this, he was a extremely well respected for his philanthropic ways.
Permalink | Reply
you guys are all dumb about the 3 year contract bull shit aright. ur allowed to opt out of the contract with in 1 years time. I do it all the time with Rogers if i want a new phone or something, you guys just because it says 3 year contract doesnt mean u cant get out of it in the 3 years.
Permalink | Reply
Tell someone that cares, because i could care less.
Permalink | Reply
rob c said:
“Tell someone that cares, because I could care less”
. . . and I thought I had pretty much seen rock bottom as far as really ugly comments on this site . . . I was wrong
Permalink | Reply
“Rogers (The company) has sympathy and compassion?”
MadMike your an assclown.
Permalink | Reply
I recently left Rogers after 4 years of employment, and it was unfortunate that I never got a chance to meet the man who I worked for. He will be missed and his qualities never forgotten. He worked hard to become who he was, and that’s something that no one can ever take away from him. R.I.P Teddy.
Permalink | Reply
I got the chance to meet ted rogers and i must say that he is more than what people think of him. He donated millions of dollars to a hospital fund in the city i work in, and i have been a rogers employee for 2 years now, Ted is a very nice man, and a very brave man when it comes to the business world. People badmouth rogers because they are the biggest company in canada, and when you are at the top people try to knock you down.
To those who badmouth ted rogers i must say.
When you can create a business like ted rogers did, when you can have as much money and be as much of a success as ted rogers was. Then you can talk crap about him. Until then you can go F&$@ yourself.
Permalink | Reply
him passing will not stop them from tryingto get the bills in canada. the nfl wants to expand. they already have 2 new york teams they will keep trying to get the bills here
Permalink | Reply