Interesting that the director would feel the need to comment on the format of your contact list. I would understand if it were the rehearsal schedule and he/she were having difficulty reading or comprehending it. Surely the director has bigger things to be concerned about. Was their problem a heirarchy listing issue perhaps, was their nose out of joint? (personally I go with an alphabetical listing, as my team and I will be the ones using it the most, it should be functional not necessarily a billing order !) Anyway...
The only times I've been requested to use a particular pro forma have been when I have been hired by long established companies with established stage management departments run by a senior stage manager. This makes sense for companies in rep; returning cast and crew get used to where they need to look for information, the head of stage management can trust that you're completing and distributing the relevant information as well as the information that the production company as a whole are expecting to receive etc..
But otherwise, as long as the document is clear, concise and relays the correct and relevant information, I don't see that it should be a problem. I too would be shocked if the director asked me to reformat a contact list, but I would be open to discussion if it were a suggested change regarding how he/she is having difficulty reading the rehearsal schedule.