Tony Staffieri will permanently take over as CEO of Rogers Communications Inc. after filling in as interim president and CEO.Matthew Sherwood/The Canadian Press
Tony Staffieri, who took over as interim president and CEO of Rogers Communications Inc. after a high-stakes battle for control of the wireless giant, will keep the top job, while two more executives will depart in a continuing overhaul of the company’s upper ranks.
Mr. Staffieri took over from Joe Natale on Nov. 16 after a vote by the company’s reconstituted board, led by chair Edward Rogers. Mr. Rogers first attempted to make the leadership change in late September, triggering a power struggle that divided one of Canada’s wealthiest families and landed in a B.C. courtroom.
The conflict unfolded as the Toronto-based telecom awaits regulatory approvals for its $26-billion takeover of Calgary-based Shaw Communications Inc. The deal is expected to close in the first half of this year.
The board decided to stick with Mr. Staffieri after conducting an executive search, the company said in a press release Monday evening.
“This is a pivotal point in the company’s history and the board has full confidence in Tony’s ability to lead Rogers as we move forward,” Mr. Rogers said in a statement.
Two executives will also be leaving the company, adding to the changes to the upper ranks of Canada’s largest wireless carrier since Mr. Staffieri first took the helm in November.
Dan Golberg, senior vice-president of strategy and corporate development, is departing, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Mr. Golberg played a key role in the Shaw deal, according to one of the people.
Chief communications officer Sevaun Palvetzian, who led the telecom’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, is also leaving Rogers, according to a source.
The Globe and Mail is not identifying the sources because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the matters.
A spokesperson for Rogers declined to comment.
Mr. Golberg previously worked with Mr. Natale out of the Toronto office of Vancouver-based Telus Corp. The telecom launched a legal action in 2018 in an attempt to stop Mr. Golberg from joining Rogers, arguing that he had breached the terms of his non-compete agreement by going to work for a rival. However, a Vancouver judge ruled against Telus, saying that the non-compete was “overly broad.”
Earlier this month, The Globe reported that Dave Fuller, the president of Rogers’s wireless division, is leaving the company and that long-time executive Phil Hartling is taking over the role.
Mr. Fuller, who worked with Mr. Natale at Telus, said in a court document last fall that Mr. Natale was the “only reason” he joined Rogers and that he did not wish to work for any other CEO.
Mr. Fuller’s departure followed the appointment of Rogers director Robert Dépatie to president and chief operating officer of the company’s home and business division late last year.
Mr. Dépatie, a telecom industry veteran who was formerly the head of Quebecor Inc. and Quebecor Media, left the board to take on the newly created role, which gives him oversight of the Connected Home business, which offers internet, television and smart home monitoring services; Rogers for Business, which serves large, small and medium-sized enterprises; and the customer service division.
Mr. Staffieri, who is also joining the telecom’s board, said he is “excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for Rogers with our exceptional set of assets and strong team.”
“I remain focused on driving shareholder value with improved execution and completing the Shaw transaction to create one strong organization,” Mr. Staffieri said in a statement.
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