Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2013/12/18/blackberry_hire_john_sims/

BlackBerry nabs 'The Sims' to head up crucial Services unit

Ex-SAP exec will take reins at biz that is key to firm's turnaround

By Brid-Aine Parnell

Posted in Networks, 18th December 2013 17:34 GMT

The company-formerly-known-as-RIM has nabbed former SAP exec John Sims to head up its global enterprise services unit, the business it hopes will be at the centre of its turnaround.

BlackBerry said that Sims would be joining the company in January, after leaving his position as president of SAP's mobile services business.

After ditching CEO Thorsten Heins in November and giving up on a buyout offer from Fairfax Holdings, the once-masterful business mobile firm is going back to its roots and hoping to rebuild itself as a services company focused on government and large corporate clients.

To that end, the firm has released a new BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 platform, which allows users to managed BlackBerry, Android and iOS devices on their networks. The company is hoping to get business folk using its services regardless of whether they want to use its mobes or not.

New chief John Chen said Sims' "extensive experience" would be a "tremendous asset" to the reorganisation of the business.

"The changes we are making demonstrate our commitment to innovating for current customers who count on BlackBerry, and the new users who are just learning how powerful and compelling the BlackBerry 10 platform can be. John will be central to all of those efforts," he said. ®