Blackberry: Two more execs leave RIM

CEO Thorsten Heins would not rule out a possible sale of the company.

TORONTO: Blackberry maker Research In Motion Limited (RIM) is losing two more senior executives as the money-losing company embarks on a strategic overhaul that its new chief executive says could result in its sale. Alan Brenner, a senior vice president for the BlackBerry platform, will leave after a transition period, and Alistair Mitchell, a vice president for the BlackBerry Messenger instant messaging product, has already left, RIM spokeswoman Tenille Kennedy said on Friday. A stream of executives have left RIM in the past year as its once-dominant market share has slipped amid fierce competition from Apple and phones running on Google’s Android. RIM shares have dropped more than 80% from a peak of almost $70 in February 2011, to $12.67 on Nasdaq on Thursday. CEO Thorsten Heins, who took the reins in January when longtime co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie resigned under pressure, would not rule out a possible sale of the company.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2012.