RIM to shed at least 2,000 jobs
BlackBerry maker preparing for major worldwide restructuring in the next two weeks
Toronto: Research In Motion Ltd is preparing for a major restructuring beginning in the next two weeks that will see it eliminate at least 2,000 jobs worldwide, the Globe and Mail reported on Saturday, citing unnamed sources.
The Canadian newspaper, citing several people close to the company, reported that the next round of layoffs is said to be planned for around Friday — a day before the BlackBerry smartphone maker's first quarter ends — but some expect the announcement even earlier.
One source close to the company said the impending lay-offs could hit as many as 6,000 people and affect legal, marketing, sales, operations, and HR operations.
"The strategic question is: are you accelerating into a better future or shrinking to a niche operation," said the source, who declined to be identified.
A RIM spokeswoman declined to comment on the report, but she pointed to comments that new chief executive Thorsten Heins and chief financial officer Brian Bidulka made on RIM's last earnings call about plans save $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) in the fiscal year.
Losing out to rivals
Once the dominant player in the wireless email sector, RIM has lost market share due to fierce competition from Apple's iPhone and phones running on Google's Android software.
RIM has already been through one round of restructuring. Last July it announced plans to cut about 11 per cent of its workforce, or 2,000 jobs.
