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RIM to axe further 2,000 jobs

Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM) is reportedly preparing for a major restructure than will see it trimming its workforce by 2,000, as it continues to struggle against Apple and Google.

According to a report in the Globe and Mail, the next round of lay-offs is planned for the beginning of June, a day before the company’s first financial quarter ends. RIM will eliminate at least 2,000 jobs, from its worldwide roster of 16,500.

Reuters reports that the impending job losses could affect as many as 6,000 people across its legal, marketing, sales and HR operations.

The latest round of job cuts would follow last year’s lay-offs, which saw RIM shed 10% of its workforce, or 2,000 jobs.

The move is part of a company overhaul by RIM chief executive Thorsten Heins, who took over at the helm in January following the departure of longtime co-chief executives and co-chairmen of the board Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie. His plan was to streamline operations and save up to $1bn in the financial year.

RIM chief technology officer for software David Yach and chief operating officer for global operations Jim Rowan have also left the company in a management shakeup.

In March, Heins announced that the Blackberry maker would be giving up on most consumer markets in order to focus on its business customers.

The Blackberry-maker, which once dominated the smartphone market, has suffered major setbacks in recent months and has steadily been losing market share to the iPhone and Android devices.

Jenni Baker, London