RIM UK Gets New Boss as Part of Executive Shuffle

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Everybody do the executive shuffle!

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has been having a hard time the last couple of years, but the company seems confident that it can turn things around with the launch of BlackBerry 10, its newest OS. In preparation for this new operating system, the company is making some internal changes, and these changes include a new role for the head of RIM UK and Ireland.

ZDNet this week reports that Stephen Bates will leave his post as managing director of RIM UK and Ireland to fill a brand new role at the company. His new title will be Regional Managing Director for Europe, and he'll be responsible for customer engagement and market responsiveness across RIM's European base.

Of course, Bates' departure is going to leave quite the gap in RIM's UK and Ireland operations. Stepping into Bates' shoes is Rob Orr, the current vice-president for product management for Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

ZDNet cites a Securities and Exchange Commission filing in reporting that as much as 10 percent of RIM's total consolidated revenue comes from sales in the UK.

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8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • idroid
    RIM doesn't need a new boss...they need to use Android in their mobile phones and make them with a Candy bar design and fully touch screen, if they can pull it off people will go crazy about it.... either that or make BBM public.
    Reply
  • altriss
    idroidRIM doesn't need a new boss...they need to use Android in their mobile phones and make them with a Candy bar design and fully touch screen, if they can pull it off people will go crazy about it.... either that or make BBM public.If they do so, they will be in direct competition with samsung and htc, not sure RIM can survive to this. If their OS i valuable, they can maybe survive.
    Reply
  • house70
    For some reason I don't believe playing musical chairs will save any company...
    Reply
  • Vorador2
    What RIM needs, is A New Hope :-P

    Personally, i think RIM as a whole is going down fast. But their software division, with the corporate BB server, will keep the company alive. Or at least, will be the only profitable division.
    Reply
  • schnitter
    That guy just want's to spice up his resume saying he was BOSS of a company for when RIM goes under and needs to find another job.
    Reply
  • Northwestern
    idroidRIM doesn't need a new boss...they need to use Android in their mobile phones and make them with a Candy bar design and fully touch screen, if they can pull it off people will go crazy about it.... either that or make BBM public.BB is a niche right now since physical keyboards are dying in the Android world and RIM still supports physical keyboards. So their touch line just needs a revamp, which will be done well if the BB London emerges from concept status. They are doing something right with most of their concepts and BBX looks just as promising. Executive Shuffle won't help the company.

    Their last chance is stocking up BBX with as much intuitive design/function as possible while delivering a strong and sleek phone that can work well with it.
    Reply
  • mynameis1
    they need to split the company into software and hardware divisions, for example adjust there software, like BB fusion to allow iphone and andriod to use the secure Blackberry network. that way corporations can stay loyal to the blackberry security sake.
    I don't want to see blackberry go under, it was nice to have a choice of the 3. and i like the tactical keyboard.. i hope they can make it !!

    they still have cashflow and no debt and a good market share around the world.. just not here.
    Reply
  • eddieroolz
    idroidRIM doesn't need a new boss...they need to use Android in their mobile phones and make them with a Candy bar design and fully touch screen, if they can pull it off people will go crazy about it.... either that or make BBM public.
    Looks like many fAndroids never read, or even if they read, they never learn.

    Android is the death knell for many companies right now. You name it - HTC...Motorola...they're all experiencing huge losses with Android. Why? No one can compete with Samsung's manufacturing base.

    Better to take the road not taken than the road that leads to death.
    Reply