LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Fifteen years ago , BlackBerry ’ s mobile handsets dominated the landscape with their physical keyboards and innovative tools for business users .
But by the time John Chen , BlackBerry ’ s Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer , joined the business , it was a very different picture .
The launch of the iPhone in 2007 heralded a huge change in the mobile handset industry . And , rather than embracing a new world of touch screens and mobile apps , BlackBerry got left behind .
By November 2013 , the company ’ s market share had fallen dramatically . Recognising the need for a radical shift in strategy , Chen was instrumental in steering BlackBerry away from the handset business and towards becoming a leader in cybersecurity and enterprise software solutions .
Career before BlackBerry Born in Hong Kong , Chen pursued his education at Brown University in Rhode Island , where he earned a bachelor ’ s degree in electrical engineering .
Obtaining a master ’ s degree in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology ( Caltech ), Chen ’ s career in the technology industry began in 1978 when he joined the prestigious Unisys Corporation . Throughout his tenure at Unisys , he held various leadership positions , honing his skills in developing and implementing innovative strategies to drive business growth . In 1991 , Chen joined Siemens Nixdorf as the president and CEO of its Open Enterprise Computing Division , further solidifying his reputation as a dynamic leader in the technology sector .
In 1997 , Chen took on the role of CEO at Sybase , a struggling enterprise software and services company . Under his visionary leadership , he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround , refocusing the company on mobile enterprise solutions and expanding its global reach . Chen ’ s strategic decisions and business acumen successfully transformed Sybase into a profitable , respected company , eventually leading to its acquisition by SAP AG in 2010 .
Joining BlackBerry in 2013 Chen led BlackBerry ’ s turnaround , successfully stabilising the company ’ s financial position , ensuring its viability , and pivoting its operations from consumer hardware to enterprise software . EXECUTIVE BIO
JOHN CHEN
TITLE : CEO & EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN COMPANY : BLACKBERRY
John Chen is Executive
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of BlackBerry . Appointed in November 2013 , John led BlackBerry ’ s turnaround stabilising the company ’ s financial position , ensuring its viability and pivoting its operations from consumer hardware to enterprise software . Today , the company takes advantage of the current growth opportunities in IoT and cybersecurity .
A distinguished business leader and proven turnaround executive with over 40 years of engineering and management experience , prior to joining BlackBerry , Chen served as Chairman and CEO of Sybase Inc ., where he re-invented the company and achieved 55 consecutive quarters of profitability during his 15-year tenure .
cybermagazine . com 19