Blackberry-maker’s co-chief executives step down in management shake-up

Research in Motion (RIM) says its co-chief executives will step down, but will retain board positions, as the Blackberry-maker shakes-up its board.

Mike Lazaridis will become vice chairman and Jim Balsillie will remain on the board without any operational role. Lazaridis founded the company in 1984.

Speaking at RIM’s headquarters, Lazaridis said: “There comes a time in the growth of every successful company when the founders recognize 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.”

Chief operating officer Thorsten Heins will replace them as chief executive. Heins joined RIM in 2007, having previously worked at Siemens Communication.

Heins said: “As with any company that has grown as fast as we have, there have been inevitable growing pains.

“We have learned from those challenges and, I believe, we have and will become a stronger company as a result.”

Shares in the firm have slumped by 75% following a difficult year for Blackberry, which saw the largest service outage, leaving some users of the smartphone without internet services for days.