Blackberry shakes up top management as part of reorganizationNovember 26, 2013 - 13:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Struggling smartphone maker Blackberry has shaken up its top management as part of its continuing reorganization, BBC News reported. The firm's chief financial officer, Brian Bidulka, will be replaced by James Yersh who has previously served as controller and head of compliance. The chief marketing officer and chief operating officer will leave the firm with no replacements announced. This comes just weeks after the firm appointed a new interim chief executive as it shelved a plan to sell itself. Blackberry named John Chen as the interim chief executive officer as it announced it had abandoned a planned sale to its biggest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings. The management changes are the first major move made by Chen. Blackberry once dominated the smartphone market, but has seen its fortunes dwindle in recent years. It has been hurt by the success and popularity of smartphones launched by rivals such as Apple and Samsung. Its attempts to boost its market share have not yielded the desired results. In September, it reported a net loss of $965mln for the second quarter, blaming poor sales of its new smartphone, the Z10. The firm has also announced a plan to cut 4,500 jobs, or 40% of its workforce, to reverse the giant losses. Chen said the management changes were aimed at refining the company's strategy "to ensure we deliver the best devices, mobile security and device management". "I look forward to working more directly with the talented teams of engineers, and the sales and marketing teams around the world to facilitate the BlackBerry turnaround and to drive innovation," he added. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. “By Your Side”: IDBank's new support program for displaced Artsakh citizens IDBank is launching a long-term social support program for forcibly displaced Artsakh residents. The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. |