BlackBerry dropped plans for a private sale to Fairfax Financial, and opted instead for a $1 billion infusion of cash. Thorsten Heins is out as CEO in favor of ex-Sybase CEO John Chen. But now what? Has anything really changed? BlackBerry still suffers from a customer base that has cratered, and a form factor and OS that most people do not want. Can they get off of the path they are on to follow Palm into the tech giant graveyard?
John Chen was a savior for Sybase when he turned that company around and brought it to profitability. Can he do the same for BlackBerry? Does he want to be the CEO? It was announced he would be the interim CEO. Can he be coaxed into taking on the job full time?
All these questions still need to be answered before I can get excited about BlackBerry again. The right person can turn the company around but it will take time, and a series of tough decisions. This could be a very interesting journey, or a sad saga. What do you think will happen? Will BlackBerry finally get the leadership it needs to turn the company around?
John Chen was a savior for Sybase when he turned that company around and brought it to profitability. Can he do the same for BlackBerry? Does he want to be the CEO? It was announced he would be the interim CEO. Can he be coaxed into taking on the job full time?
All these questions still need to be answered before I can get excited about BlackBerry again. The right person can turn the company around but it will take time, and a series of tough decisions. This could be a very interesting journey, or a sad saga. What do you think will happen? Will BlackBerry finally get the leadership it needs to turn the company around?