BlackBerry

BlackBerry CEO Chen calls saving BlackBerry "a big deal"; company loses its VP of design

posted by Alan F. / Feb 24, 2014, 4:52 PM

BlackBerry CEO Chen calls saving BlackBerry

Saving BlackBerry is a big deal to CEO John Chen. The executive, who turned around Sybase and sold it to SAP in 2010 for $5.8 billion, does have a plan. His first job: winning back those enterprise customers that have left. To do this, he is restoring confidence in the company, squashing any more talk that the Canadian firm is up for sale. And according to Chen, the company has plenty of cash to move forward.

Chen admits that BlackBerry has a reputation for overpromising and underdelivering. "I realize that the company has some credibility gaps," says the CEO, and admits that some carriers basically told him that the manufacturer needs to get its act together. To do this, the executive wants to take BlackBerry from a "mobile technology company" slinging handsets to a "mobile solutions company" supporting the much broader mobile needs of customers.

"I’ll tell you, there are pain points every day. If this could be done, it would put a statement in the world. I think it’s a pretty big deal if we could save BlackBerry."-John Chen, CEO, BlackBerry

Meanwhile, the company did lose its VP of user experience design, Don Lindsay. Lindsay was responsible for many of the UI features of BlackBerry 10. He had been with the company since back in 2009. No reason was given for his departure, so we don't know if he jumped, or was pushed.

source: Crackberry, @WConnors, N4BB

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10 Comments

1. Diego!

Posts: 880; Member since: Jun 15, 2009

I gotta admit I had a Z10 for the first time in my hands last Saturday. A friend of mine owns one. BB10 OS has a lot of potential. Hopefully they can climb back or established BB as a fourth OS among Android, iOS & WindowsPhone 8.

posted on Feb 24, 2014, 4:58 PM 2

2. axllebeer

Posts: 272; Member since: Apr 05, 2011

It really is quite a pleasure to use. I just hope once 10.2.1 becomes prevalent across the globe that they can gain some ground. I'm a Q10 user myself and in love it.

posted on Feb 24, 2014, 5:18 PM 0

3. techaman unregistered

what ever you do dont take samsungs guy he does not know what he is doing for design, take one of the concept art guys from youtube they they can make it look nice.and pass it around the youtube world and get rateings

posted on Feb 24, 2014, 5:29 PM 2

6. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

I liked the back of the new Sammy phone - but, you make a good point and also, they need to hire developers from XDA...

posted on Feb 24, 2014, 5:38 PM 0

4. Caralho

Posts: 119; Member since: Jun 18, 2012

Blackberry must embrace Android as its sole OS, or face extinction. There is still time, Blackberry. Accept your fate...

posted on Feb 24, 2014, 5:32 PM 2

5. networkdood

Or, at least maybe make a Windows and Android version...but, I think the company is dead and does not want to admit it...

posted on Feb 24, 2014, 5:37 PM 1

7. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

I wouldn't mine having be running android OS with their qwerty keyboard.

posted on Feb 24, 2014, 5:41 PM 0

8. thealphageek1

Posts: 942; Member since: Feb 02, 2013

I think BlackBerry can be made profitable again. And I think John Chen is the man to do it. Since taking the helm back in November of 2013, the stock has gone up 40%.. I think they need to stay the course that Chen has set forth and make BB10 the best it can be. Android cannot save everyone. Look at Motorola. Look at HTC. They've been with Android for a long time now, and are still in the red. Windows can't save everyone either. The only company making a profit off of Windows is Nokia(soon to be Microsoft). Samsung, HTC and others are not making any profits off of Windows. Chen has been making some good, hard choices for BlackBerry that's been moving the company in a positive direction.

posted on Feb 24, 2014, 7:15 PM 0

9. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

Is it just me, or does Chen look like Hiro from the tv show Heroes? Perhaps he is Hiro, constantly traveling back in time trying to right the wrongs of Blackberry. He's been at it for a while given his age now, LOL.