Rogers Brawl Ignited by Peterson’s Pushback Against Chairman

Former Ontario Premier David Peterson assembled a group of directors at Rogers Communications Inc. to keep Chief Executive Officer Joe Natale in charge, setting the stage for the boardroom brawl that’s now roiling the Canadian wireless company.

Peterson’s coalition of eight directors, including three Rogers family members, joined forces on the last weekend of September to reverse a 10-1 board vote approving Natale’s exit package, according to people familiar with the matter. That vote had taken place on Sept. 24.

Edward Rogers, the company’s chairman at the time, wanted Natale gone and tried to install Chief Financial Officer Tony ...