14 DAY TRIAL // Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion has just announced that it planned on reducing its workforce by 2,000, in an attempt to cut down costs even more.
Both employees in North America and in various other countries around the world will see the pink slip, RIM said. The company will inform those impacted by the move during the ongoing week.
This move is part of the company's cost optimization program, and is meant on eliminating redundancies and reallocating resources.
RIM notes that the job cuts is a prudent and necessary step that would ensure the company's long-term success, and that it follows a period of fast growth for the company.
“As part of this broad effort, RIM is reducing its global workforce across all functions by approximately 2,000 employees. RIM intends to notify impacted employees in North America and certain other countries this week,” the company announced.
“The remainder of the global workforce reductions will occur at a later date subject to local laws and regulations. All impacted employees will receive severance packages and outplacement support.”
When the entire job cuts process will be completed, RIM should have a number of around 17,000 employees all around the world.
The handset vendor also announced that it planned on revealing additional info on the workforce reduction and other operating expense reductions on September 15, 2011, when it unveils its Q2 results.
In addition to these reductions, the company also announced a series of changes at the management level.
RIM appointed Thorsten Heins in the role of COO, Product and Sales. The position of Managing Director, Global Sales and Regional Marketing will be occupied by Patrick Spence, the company announced.
Robin Bienfait, CIO, remains in her position and also takes on the responsibility for the Enterprise Business Unit. David Yach will be responsible for platform advancements as CTO, Software.
The company also revealed that Jim Rowan would serve as COO, Operations, and that he would work together with Brian Bidulka, RIM’s CFO, on the overseeing of the undergoing Cost Optimization Program.