In the wake of Blackberry OS producer Research In Motion‘s bleak first quarter earnings report, the company has announced a layoff of 2,000 of its 19,000 employee base, shrinking the company by 11 percent. In addition, the company is making dramatic changes to senior positions in an attempt to fully reorganize the company to accommodate the company’s struggling position.
In addition to the layoffs, current COO of products and sales Dan Morrison is retiring after medical leave, and former COO of product engineering Thorsten Heins will be working in his place. RIM vice president Patrick Spence will also be promoted into the role of managing director of global sales and regional marketing.
A day after posting bleak first quarter earnings, RIM’s stock tanked, dropping 20 percent overnight. Also, once a leader in the smartphone market, the company has fallen behind to third, with competitors Apple OS and Android outpacing the business phone OS. These radical changes indicate a company preparing for a comeback.
Read more at TechCrunch.
