Just a month after previewing their new BlackBerry 10 OS slated to come late 2012, there has been a spate of recent executive departures and now news that restructuring of the company will result in inevitable layoffs.
RIM's stock price has been sliding and instead of making headlines for new products and services, RIM's been getting in the news for some high profile departures.
RIM's EVP of Global Sales Patrick Spence, a 14 year RIM vetaran, left the company four days ago to join music device maker Sonos as Chief Commercial Officer. Spence handled emerging markets such as Europe, Middle East and Asia, critical areas where RIM has developed its presence as a leading mobile hardware and services provider.
Today, news of another departure, that of Chief Legal Officer Karima Bawa, was announced. Bawa, who joined RIM in 2000, was promoted to general counsel and chief legal officer in late 2010. Some reports state that she had been considering retirement for some time.
A report by Reuters cites RIM's upcoming restructuring move could result in up to 2,000 layoffs and possibly more.
As the report states, "one source close to the Waterloo, Ont.-based company told Reuters the impending layoffs could hit as many as 6,000 people and affect RIM's legal, marketing, sales, operations, and human resources divisions."
RIM has already been through one round of restructuring that saw it lose 11% of its workforce, or roughly 2,000 jobs, last July.
Sources: Reuters via Financial Post