BlackBerry CEO John Chen to Retire After Transforming the Company

Srishti Dey
Srishti Dey January 13, 2024
Updated 2024/01/13 at 9:35 AM

John Chen, the CEO of BlackBerry, will step down after ten years in the role, signaling a major change in the course of the business. BlackBerry changed its focus from making hardware and devices to concentrating on corporate software under his direction. The influence of John Chen’s tenure and the company’s future goals are examined in this article.

The departure of John Chen:



With his departure as CEO, BlackBerry, a firm best known for its full-keyboard business phones, has come to an end of an era. The change is a reflection of his critical role in leading BlackBerry through difficult periods, such as the emergence of the iPhone and Android mobile devices.
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Board Chair and Acting CEO: Richard Lynch, a director on BlackBerry’s board, will serve as the company’s acting chairperson while it searches for a long-term successor. Lynch will assume the position of board chair once John Chen steps away.

The Journey of Transformation:



BlackBerry changed from a failing hardware manufacturer to a producer of corporate software solutions under John Chen’s direction. This tactical change was necessary to adjust to the quickly changing IT industry.

Future Objectives:


With an eye on an IoT subsidiary initial public offering in the upcoming fiscal year, BlackBerry intends to split its cybersecurity and IoT divisions in the future. The corporation has already given up on making smartphones, and it is aggressively looking to sell its mobile device-related legacy patents.

BlackBerry has undergone a sea change as a result of John Chen’s retirement, which is a reflection of his influence on the company’s course. BlackBerry continues to be focused on its corporate software and emerging technologies core competencies while adjusting to shifting market conditions.

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