Ted Rogers, for decades, has walked a high wire in a constantly
evolving industry, and has rarely fallen. Known for being
persuasive, tenacious and driven, his success has lined the coffers
of his company--and his shareholders'' pockets.
Building a telecom empire was perhaps preordained, part of a
lost legacy inherited from a father who possessed vision and
genius--and died too young. Ted Rogers, also his father''s
namesake, picked up the torch and wrote his own version of
communications history in Canada.
In High Wire Act, Caroline van Hasselt offers a rich
and layered story about the man who heads up the Rogers empire. By
all accounts genetically wired as an entrepreneur, Rogers grew his
small company into the giant it is today to the surprise--and
chagrin--of competitors like BCE.
The trajectory of his life mirrors the explosive growth in a
rocket-fueled industry that has seen few survivors--and surviving
the almost continuous wars surrounding telecom, technology and
media convergence has taken its toll on Rogers. Ill health.
Near bankruptcy. The vitriol of competitors--and even from within
his own ranks. Public outcry over poor customer service and bully
tactics.
How much more history will Ted Rogers make? What will be his
next conquest? The bets are on that a life''s work is not complete
for a man driven to compete and win in an unforgiving business for
more than fifty years. Admire him or revile him, Ted Rogers sits
astride how modern society communicates. It is a fascinating
life''s work that is about to unfold in these
pages.