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The board of directors of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion today announced that it has unanimously named Mr Thorsten Heins as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr Heins was also appointed to RIM’s board.
The board acted after conducting its own due diligence. Both appointments are effective immediately.
Mr Mike Lazaridis, former Co-Chair and Co-CEO, has become Vice-Chair of RIM’s board and Chair of the board’s new Innovation Committee. As Vice-Chair, he will work closely with Mr Heins to offer strategic counsel, provide a smooth transition and continue to promote the BlackBerry brand worldwide.
The other co-Chief Executive Officer Mr Jim Balsillie has also quit and will now be a member of the board.
The changes come even as the handset maker is struggling to fight competition from Apple and Samsung. Ontario-based RIM’s stock tumbled 75 per cent last year as sales slumped, and the two men, both 50, drew investor criticism for releasing products without the features necessary to compete.
On the transition to CEO by Mr Heins, Mr Lazaridis said, “There comes a time in the growth of every successful company when the founders recognise the need to pass the baton to new leadership. Jim and I went to the board and told them that we thought that time was now. With BlackBerry 7 now out, PlayBook 2.0 shipping in February and BlackBerry 10 expected to ship later this year, the company is entering a new phase, and we felt it was time for a new leader to take it through that phase and beyond.”
Mr Lazaridis said that he decided to move from Co-Chair to Vice-Chair of the board to return the public’s focus to what is most important: “the great company we have built, its iconic products, global brand and its talented employees.”
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