Tag Archives: John Chen

BlackBerry Classic Launching In November According To Chen

BlackBerry Classic Launching In November According To Chen

Chen was asked by USA Today’s Maria Bartiromo:

“People love their BlackBerrys. You have a whole host of people who really want you to succeed because they love the product. How important is this loyalty?”

Chen responded (bold emphasis is ours):

“I very much appreciate of that. It’s a big part of where we’re going to go. When you look at our loyal customer base, it’s very much concentrated in the government space, in enterprises like banks, insurance companies and various extremely productive oriented industries that need to be very secure. They need to have high security and trusting of the products, both in the handset as well as the software. That’s a big part of my “road map” and strategy.

I’ll give you a couple of examples: We’re going to return the familiar user experience in the handsets business. There’s a new product called the BlackBerry Classic that’s coming out. It’s an updated and enhanced version of one of our most popular and successful products called the Bold. It will include a keyboard and a good touch-screen, very fast Internet, Web-browsing capability and multimedia capability. But also it will be very productive and very secure. So, all the familiar things that people love, with some new technology updated. That will come out in November along with the server that helps companies manage devices. Not only the BlackBerry device, but every device, the iPhone and androids and Windows and everything else.

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BlackBerry CEO, John Chen speaks about White House talks, future devices, T-Mobile and more!

BlackBerry CEO, John Chen speaks about White House talks, future devices, T-Mobile and more!

BlackBerry CEO John Chen spoke with Bloomberg yesterday and got to talk about a few interesting things in the BlackBerry world. He spoke at least about the company’s strategy and other enterprise related topics, which have become the norm in this newly focused BlackBerry. He also touched on the name BlackBerry vs Research In Motion, the latter which he actually liked better.

Chen mentioned BlackBerry has also been briefed by the White House in terms of what they like, and don’t necessarily love about their BlackBerry solution, and how the company takes that into consideration for the future.

The Q20 was not left out of the conversation either though. According to Chen, he’d like to have it out “yesterday,” but making sure the UI and phone are modern, while still retaining the controls so many Bold 9900 users out there love, takes time. You can’t rush merging those two things together. Chen expects the Q20 to be launched in the September/October time frame, which means we’re only about 6 months away.

BlackBerry appoints Eric Johnson as President of Global Sales

BlackBerry appoints Eric Johnson as President of Global Sales

Since John Chen took over as CEO for BlackBerry we’ve seen a few new members appointed to the management team. This time its in the sales department and Eric Johnson will take the helm and hopefully move the ship forward.

As we all know – sales for BlackBerry smartphones need to improve and Eric could well be the man for the job, looking at his past experience. With BlackBerry 10 now a year old, 2014 needs to be better for them than 2013 was, although the company expects it to take a while longer for a full recovery in terms of making money.

Press Release

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – Jan. 13, 2014) – BlackBerry(R) Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a world leader in mobile communications, today announced that Eric Johnson will join the Company as President, Global Sales reporting to BlackBerry’s Executive Chair and CEO, John Chen.

“I am pleased to round out BlackBerry’s new executive leadership team with another outstanding addition today. I have worked with Eric extensively and have tremendous respect for his sales expertise and customer centric approach to business. Our carriers, partners, distributors and enterprise customers will benefit greatly from Eric’s approach,” said Chen. “The experience that the majority of the new leadership team has in working together previously will drive change within the organization at a faster pace. I look forward to demonstrating these changes to the market.”

Eric Johnson most recently served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for SAP’s Global Database and Technology. Prior to that, Eric was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Platform and Analytics Sales for North America, also at SAP. In the years preceding, Eric served in several capacities at Sybase, including Senior Vice President and General Manager for North America, Senior Vice President and General Manager Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Senior Vice President and General Manager for Financial Services, where he managed both direct and indirect sales including field sales, professional services and customer services. Eric holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

John Chen drops “Interim CEO title” and goes with CEO of BlackBerry instead

It seems BlackBerry board is happy with Mr John Chen performance and have decided to drop his interim title and appointing him as the CEO of BlackBerry. Adam Emery, a spokesman for the company, confirmed the title change and said that this week during at International CES, the large electronics trade show in Las Vegas, Mr. Chen promised to stay on at BlackBerry, which lost $4.4 billion in its last quarter.

“After earnings, and again in meetings with media and analysts at C.E.S., John said that he would be BlackBerry’s C.E.O. until the company is back on solid financial footing,” Mr. Emery wrote. “The search for a CEO has been put on the back burner for now.”

First Foxconn BlackBerry Will Be Under $200 says BlackBerry CEO

First Foxconn BlackBerry Will Be Under $200 says BlackBerry CEO

According to remarks from BlackBerry’s CEO John Chen at CES, this device, codenamed Jakarta, will be priced at under $200 at launch. A very tempting and competitive price for those emerging markets. That wasn’t all though.

A second smartphone, one that seems to be a high end device, will be designed by BlackBerry, and launched in 2014 also. This is the device most BlackBerry fans in the western hemisphere hope reaches us sometime this year.

Chen reemphasized that BlackBerry’s core focus will be on enterprise over the next 18 months. His number one goal is getting the company to gain traction in that space before jumping back into the consumer market down the line.

BlackBerry makes new investment in Security Innovation Center in the Washington, D.C. area

BlackBerry makes new investment in Security Innovation Center in the Washington, D.C. area

We heard earlier from BlackBerry’s Executive Chair and CEO, John Chen that BlackBerry was planning on opening new Security Innovation Centers to help better their working relationships with Government organizations and now John Chen have confirm this during his speech given at CES Government, which is held each January as part of CES.

“We are committed to working with government and industry experts to solve some of the biggest challenges we face in securing mobile communication. The Washington, D.C.-based security innovation center will be focused on creating lasting partnerships that will encourage ongoing dialogue aimed at making better products and policy.”

Press Release

BlackBerry Makes New Investment in Security Innovation Center in the Washington, D.C. Area

Las Vegas – BlackBerry, in attendance at CES Government (CESG), communicated its intention to invest in a new security innovation center in the Washington, D.C. area. Building on BlackBerry’s technical experience and leadership in mobile security, the new Center will serve as a hub for collaboration with key government customers and other expert partners.

CESG is held each January as part of the world-renowned International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). John Chen, Chief Executive Officer of BlackBerry addressed key members of Congress and government officials on Monday at the show.

“We are committed to working with government and industry experts to solve some of the biggest challenges we face in securing mobile communication. The Washington, D.C.-based security innovation center will be focused on creating lasting partnerships that will encourage ongoing dialogue aimed at making better products and policy,” said Chen during his speech at CESG.”

Chen added, “Ron will focus on BlackBerry’s long-term product roadmap, including hardware, software and design, as well as the Company’s joint development efforts. A good deal of Ron’s time will be spent with customers, carriers and partners. On our path to return BlackBerry to profitability, nothing is more important than remaining deeply connected to our customers, and designing and delivering secure products that exceed their expectations.”

Additional details will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Follow BlackBerry on Twitter @BlackBerry4Biz and on our blog at http://bizblog.blackberry.com/.

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BlackBerry Appoints Ron Louks as President of Devices and Emerging Solutions

BlackBerry Appoints Ron Louks as President of Devices and Emerging Solutions

BlackBerry has announced another hire this morning as Ron Louks has been named President of Devices and Emerging Solutions for the company. Mr. Ron will be reporting directly to CEO John Chen in all matters, as well as having to focus on BlackBerry’s long-term product roadmap of hardware, software and design. Ron Louks is noted for his history at The OpenNMS Group, where he served as the Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that, Ron held many leadership positions over several decades in the technology industry, including as the Chief Strategy Officer of HTC America Inc. and the Chief Technology Officer at Sony Ericsson.

This hire again reaffirms that BlackBerry will continue to make smartphones for the long run, even though that may not be their short-term focus in 2014.

Press Release
BlackBerry Appoints Leadership for Devices Business

WATERLOO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – January 06, 2014) – BlackBerry® Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY) (TSX: BB), a world leader in mobile communications, today announced that Ron Louks will join the Company as President, Devices and Emerging Solutions reporting to BlackBerry’s Executive Chair and CEO, John Chen.

“I am pleased to add another outstanding addition to BlackBerry’s executive leadership team with the announcement of Ron today,” said Chen. “I am confident that Ron will bring the skills and expertise that will make an immediate impact to BlackBerry and to our customers around the world.”

Chen added, “Ron will focus on BlackBerry’s long-term product roadmap, including hardware, software and design, as well as the Company’s joint development efforts. A good deal of Ron’s time will be spent with customers, carriers and partners. On our path to return BlackBerry to profitability, nothing is more important than remaining deeply connected to our customers, and designing and delivering secure products that exceed their expectations.”

Ron Louks joins BlackBerry from The OpenNMS Group, where he served as the Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that, Ron held many leadership positions over several decades in the technology industry, including as the Chief Strategy Officer of HTC America Inc. and the Chief Technology Officer at Sony Ericsson.

Foxconn’s First BlackBerry Device, “Jakarta,” May Not Have A Physical Keyboard

Foxconn’s First BlackBerry Device, “Jakarta,” May Not Have A Physical Keyboard

BlackBerry CEO John Chen have release some info on the first Foxconn-made BlackBerry device during the company’s last earnings call, codenamed Jakarta, and now rumors are starting up about what this device may end up looking like. We know it’s going to be aimed at emerging markets and will hopefully at an affordable price. Many were sure this next BlackBerry would be the typical QWERTY-keyboard style, but according to a report from BGR, this may not be the case.

BGR’s sources have indicated to them that the BlackBerry “Jakarta” will be an all-touch device. No word as to why BlackBerry will reportedly be launching a touchscreen-only device, but we’re sure that more information will be making its way out into the public in the coming weeks.

The BlackBerry codename Jakarta is slated to be launched in emerging markets between April and May of 2014.

BlackBerry CEO John Chen: ‘The journey has just begun’

BlackBerry CEO John Chen: 'The journey has just begun'

This morning, CNBC has published an Op-Ed from BlackBerry CEO John Chen. The letter is a very upfront, and direct message to pretty much anyone out there, shareholder or not, that BlackBerry is still very much alive, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. We’ve seen Op-Eds like this before from previous regime leader, Thorsten Heins, but this one stands out because of one key aspect, a plan behind the message of resurgence.

Chen makes it very clear in this editorial that he does not plan on leaving BlackBerry’s comeback to chance. There is a strategic plan which has been devised in the first two months as CEO by his whole team of industry leaders. The plan as we know, revolves around four key aspects of BlackBerry: Enterprise, QNX, BBM, and Devices.

BBM growth has been strong as well since going cross platform in October, and Chen notes that in the last 60 days, more than 40 million new iOS and Android users have registered with BBM. BlackBerry “will continue to invest in this popular service” and has plans to turn BBM into a revenue stream “in the coming years.”

“We’ve accomplished a great deal in these last couple months, and we’re positioned for the long haul. We have a strong cash position with more than $3 billion on hand, a renewed spirit, and trusted technology, network and platform.”

It seems we can expect that BlackBerry will not go down without a fight and they have already gather their resources and talents to fight back.