Heins appointment as RIM CEO greeted with scepticism
23 Jan 2012
Blackberry insider Thorsten Heins' elevation to the post of CEO of RIM has not exactly received an enthusiastic thumbs up from analysts.
His appointment comes in the wake of founders and co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazardis bowing out under shareholder pressure, though both will remain directors in the company. (See: RIM co chiefs Jim Balsillie, Mike Lazaridis step down)
The company which was worth over $70 billion a few years ago, now has a market value of $8.9 billion.
Gartner vice-president Carolina Milanesi tweeted that RIM's CEO change reminded her of the Nokia Spring reshuffle before (current CEO Stephen) Elop was appointed in September. She added the reshuffle was not enough for Nokia.
Heins who joined RIM four years ago from German manufacturer Siemens faces formidable challenges. The Blackberry maker's share of the smartphone market in the US has dramatically shrunk to 16.6 per cent in the three months to the end of November, according to research firm ComScore.
As against this, phones using Google's Android operation system command a near 50 per cent share of the market while Apple takes 28.7 per cent.
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