(Toronto) The former CEO of Rogers Communications has hit back at the company, alleging Rogers led “a campaign of dishonesty” over his ouster in November 2021 by fabricating allegations in its defense of his pursuit.
In documents filed Thursday, Joe Natale accuses Rogers of altering business documents to support his legal position in the battle between the two parties.
“In a blatant ethical violation for one of Canada’s largest public companies, Rogers altered the minutes of Rogers board meetings from the relevant period to change statements made by Edward Rogers at advice in order to better align with Rogers’ selfish account of events,” it is written in the document presented by Mr. Natale.
According to the document, Edward Rogers, the company’s president, had previously filed “different versions […] of these meeting minutes before the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2021, representing their accuracy to the Court at that time.”
Mr. Natale announced in August that he was suing the company for wrongful termination and breach of contract, alleging that its president had engaged in “malicious, authoritarian and oppressive conduct.” He is demanding 24 million in compensation and damages.
Rogers responded last month by launching a countersuit against Mr. Natale, claiming that he had attempted to “subvert corporate governance and fiduciary duties for his personal gain.”
Neither side’s claims have been tested in court.
In a statement, Rogers spokesperson Sarah Schmidt argued that “Mr. Natale’s behavior [parlait] of himself “.
“While we had hoped to resolve this matter privately, Joe Natale’s lawsuit leaves us with no choice,” she said in an email.
“We are confident that the courts will separate fact from fiction, including inaccuracies regarding the company’s actions. »
Mr. Natale’s departure from the Toronto telecommunications giant was announced after a power struggle within the board of directors over the chairman’s desire to replace Mr. Natale with Tony Staffieri, then the chief financial officer and now chief financial officer. Rogers management.
Edward Rogers’ initial attempt to oust Mr Natale in favor of his CFO led to Mr Staffieri’s departure in September 2021, as well as a board vote which saw Edward removed from his position. sits on the board.
Edward Rogers drafted a shareholder resolution to oust the five directors who had defied him, without holding a board meeting. The company filed a lawsuit against its revamped board, sparking a legal battle over who was actually on it.
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge ultimately ruled Edward Rogers’ statement legitimate and he was reinstated as president.
Mr. Staffieri replaced Mr. Natale as president and CEO following the decision.