BlackBerry loses two more key execs
The top-level departures continue as BlackBerry preps itself for major layoffs in an effort to stay afloat.
BlackBerry is saying goodbye to two of its top vice presidents.
Rick Costanzo, executive vice president for global sales, has resigned, while Chris Wormald, vice president for Strategic Alliances, has also decided to leave, a BlackBerry spokeswoman told CNET on Monday. The news follows a report published earlier in the day by the Wall Street Journal, which had cited information from "people familiar with the matter."
Both men have been with BlackBerry for much of their careers. Costanzo joined the company in 1999 as a vice president for commercial operations in Europe, while Wormald started as an intern in 2000.
These moves follow a string of other executive exits announced within the last several weeks.
On November 25, BlackBerry revealed that chief operating officer Kristian Tear and chief marketing officer Frank Boulben will be leaving. Chief financial officer Brian Bidulka also is due to depart but will stick around as a special adviser to interim CEO John Chen until the end of the current fiscal year. Earlier in the month, then CEO Thorsten Heins was ousted, replaced for now by Chen, who also took on the role of executive chairman of BlackBerry's board.
And many employees will be forced to leave before too long. BlackBerry announced in September that it will lay off 40 percent of its workforce, or 4,500 people in total.
Updated 8:45 a.m. PT with confirmation from BlackBerry.