TORONTO - Canada's largest cellphone operator and cable TV company will likely take a more conservative turn as it moves ahead without its founder and CEO Ted Rogers, who died early Tuesday, analysts say.

Although Rogers always made it clear he expected Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B) to stay in his family's control after his death, it's likely Nadir Mohamed, president of the company's cable TV, wireless and home phone divisions, will be named CEO for the time being.

"Nadir Mohamed is clearly the man to take the job," said Jesse Hirsh, a technology analyst who operates the website JesseHirsh.com.

"I think it would be a mistake to accelerate the inevitable succession of his kids. Rogers shareholders really need to see that everything is status quo."

Ted's daughter Melinda Rogers, currently senior vice-president of strategy and development, and his son Edward Rogers, who runs the company's cable TV operations, have both been touted as possible successors to their father.

But Hirsh said both Rogers children need to be groomed before they'll be ready to take over their father's legacy.

"There's a long history of children diminishing what they inherit and I suspect in this time of economic uncertainty, even remotely implying that would be dangerous for Rogers," Hirsh said, adding that Mohamed will likely run the company for the next two or three years at least.

Rogers chief financial officer Bill Linton has also been mentioned as a possible successor.

A statement from Rogers Communications said a permanent successor as chief executive will be appointed by the company's board, "which intends to form a special committee to lead a search considering internal and external candidates."

In the meantime, Rogers will continue to be led by chairman and acting CEO Alan Horn, 56, who was appointed to the post when Ted Rogers was hospitalized with an existing heart condition earlier this fall.

Control of the company will remain in the hands of the Rogers family, and Edward Rogers will be named controlling shareholder for the first two years after his father's death.

Decisions will be made by a 15-member trust, which will include Rogers' wife Loretta, his four children and an advisory team of 10.

John Henderson, an analyst with Scotia Capital, said Rogers left his company well-positioned to continue the successes it saw under his leadership.

"Ted organized his affairs beforehand and I think the company was in very good hands, and the event of his passing shouldn't in our view have any material impact on the company in the short run," Henderson said.

But BMO Capital Markets analyst Tim Casey said that although the company has "an industry-leading asset mix and attractive balance sheet and free cash flow profile," Rogers' death leaves the company without a visionary leader.

"One of Mr. Rogers' great skills was strategic vision and positioning, so in our view his loss will be realized over the long term," Casey said.

If Mohamed succeeds Rogers, he will likely focus on "less exciting issues" than his predecessor, including cost cutting, capital efficiencies and capital allocation, according to Genuity Capital Markets analyst Dvai Ghose.

"Under Nadir Mohamed's leadership, Rogers could see a greater focus on margin and cash flow expansion, as well as a greater emphasis on returning excess cash to shareholders," Ghose stated.

Ted Rogers was famous for making bold investments and acquisitions, not all of which were successful, but many of which were "home runs," Ghose said.

"(Rogers) may be a less acquisitive company in the future," he added.

Rumours were circulating the day before Rogers' death that the company was planning to announce layoffs, a move which has likely been put on hold for the time being.

In addition to the Rogers cable, wireless, radio and television businesses, the company owns the Toronto Blue Jays and their home, the Rogers Centre, five Citytv stations and an array of other media properties including Maclean's and Chatelaine magazines.

Hirsh said job cuts are likely at Rogers' media division and it may even shut down "a magazine or two," even though the company as a whole is in relatively good shape.

"It's an opportunity for them to make cuts at a time when it's both economically and politically viable because the rest of the industry is making the same cuts," he said, referring to major workforce reductions at competitors Canwest Global and CTVglobemedia.

Like all media and communications companies, Rogers faces a more difficult economy, with little growth and a squeeze on advertising revenues that could affect its TV stations, magazines and radio operations.

The company, with 24,000 employees, also faces new entrants into the national wireless market, which could dampen profits from the lucrative business.

However, the company is in relatively good financial shape these days, a far cry from when it nearly went bankrupt several times years ago under a mountain of debt used to finance new technology and acquisitions.

Rogers shares were down 72 cents to $33.80 in Tuesday afternoon trading on the Toronto Stock Market.