Research in Motion founders Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have stepped down as co-CEOs and co-chairmen of the struggling BlackBerry maker to make way for co-COO and former Siemens executive Thorsten Heins.
Board member Barbara Stymiest will replace the pair as Chairman of the Board, confirming rumours reported early this month.
The shuffle signals the end of a 20 year partnership for Lazaridis and Balsillie, as the company struggles to maintain its position in an increasingly competitive smartphone market.
Statistics published by mobile market analyst ComScore chart RIM’s continual decline from a once industry-leading position to sit behind Google and Apple in the smartphone market. Since October, RIM has seen its market share slip to 17.2 percent, compared to the 21.7 percent it held only three months earlier in July.
Lazaridis said in a statement the shuffle was simply an orderly transition on a previously-mapped out succession plan, and not in response to struggling sales.
"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," he said.
“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. Jim, the Board and I all agreed that leader should be Thorsten Heins."
Lazaridis will serve as vice-chair of RIM’s board, as well chair of the Board’s newly-created Innovation Committee. Balsillie will also remain a member of the board.
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