BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has replaced two members of its management team, appointing a new chief operating officer and chief marketing officer.
In a press release, the company announced the appointment of former Sony Mobile Communications executive vice president Kristian Tear as its new COO, while Vodafone’s former director of commercial strategy, Frank Boulben, has been appointed its CMO.
The management reshuffle follows the resignation of former CEO Jim Balsillie in March, following a disappointing Q4 earnings announcement.
Once dominant in the smartphone, government and enterprise markets, over recent years RIM has consistently lost marketshare to competitors such as Apple and Samsung.
Its platform has been abandoned by government departments, including the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as major companies such as Halliburton.
The company hopes that a management refresh and its forthcoming BlackBerry 10 platform, expected later this year, will reverse its fortunes.
Andrew Sadauskas is a former journalist at SmartCompany and a former editor of TechCompany.
