RIM has elected a new CEO and President Thorsten Heins, with previous co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis stepping back after investors and the company board demanded change. Heins who was previously co-COO at RIM, and before that Senior VP of Handhelds takes his new role today, where he says he will "focus both on short-term and long-term growth, strategic planning, a customer- and market-based product approach, and flawless execution."

Jim Balsillie will remain a RIM board member and a Director of the company. Mike Lazaridis, meanwhile, will become Vice Chair of the Board as well as head a new Innovation Committee; to further pacify investors, he is grabbed another $50m of RIM shares to show confidence in Heins abilities and the company future.