Last month, Research In Motion announced plans for a cost optimization program that would involve redundancies. It’s now confirmed more details, revealing that it’s cutting 2,000 jobs; roughly 10% of the global workforce. RIM says this “is believed to be a prudent and necessary step for the long term success of the company”, noting that it follows a period of rapid growth that saw the workforce almost quadruple within the last five years.
There’s also a reorganisation within the company’s senior management team, with Chief Operating Officer Don Morrison - currently on medical leave - now planning to retire after ten years with RIM. Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis will remain as co-CEOs.