Today RIM has provided an update on their “cost optimization program” as well as an overview of the reorganization of their upper management team. Considering RIM’s stock has been at a steady decline all year long, we can’t disagree with this decision. This restructuring is also following a recent report of 2000 employees being layed off from a 20,000 worldwide workforce.

More after the break.

With this tornado of bad media buzz surrounding RIM, it’s easy to get swepped away and believe all types of things. However, Research In Motion is in a state of refresh that includes, but is not limited to, managarial restructuring as well as reducing talent redundancies and reallocation of them to further improve RIM’s business goals. This is where the cutting of 2,000 jobs comes in, which is not necessarily a bad thing as the growth of RIM in the past few years has been exponential to say the least. If the jobs that were created during this grwoth are no longer necessary or did not prove fruitful, there can be no other choice but to releave the situation. As RIM now begins to reorganize the company they can now focus on what is essential to the future growth and prosperity of their company.

The following changes have been made to the companies upper management team:

 -Thorsten Heins has been given an extended role of COO, now overseeing Product and Sales

- Patrick Spence is taking on the role of Managing Director, Global Sales and Regional Marketing.

-Robin Bienfait (CIO) has been given the responsibility for managing the Enterprise Business Unit (Something RIM should focus on innovating and keeping a solid hold of)

-David Yach, in his role as CTO, will focus on current and future software platforms                                       (So it seems we will have to look upon David for the Android App integration)

-Jim Rowan has been given an expanded role of COO to include Organizational Development and Facilities Management (RIM has been criticized about their talent pool management in a slew of previously leaked internal messages)

-Brian Bidulka, RIM’s CFO, is working together with Jim Rowan in overseeing the Cost Optimization Program which is currently underway.

RIM’s Cost Optimization Program

It has been said that RIM is “focused on eliminating redundancies and reallocating resources to focus on areas that offer the highest growth opportunities and alignment with RIM’s strategic objectives”. This falls into place with their upcoming “Super Phone” which has taken the place of their initially planned 10″ Playbook Tablet. There is also said to be more reductions in employment to follow “at a later time”. Hopefully the talent pool at RIM was not truly effected by the reduction in employees and they have reallocated the right people to their more fruitful business ventures instead.

VIA RIM’s PR Agency