BlackBerry has extended its contract with CEO John S. Chen, who will serve as chief executive through November 2023.
BlackBerry brought Chen on board in 2013 and he oversaw the company’s transformation from a hardware business to a software and services business. Chen was responsible for deep spending cuts that helped keep the company from going under.
The firm is now focused on selling mobile device management services to business customers. The company also develops device-side software for Android handsets that allows them to offer secure email, messaging, and other core communications.
“The BlackBerry Board of Directors has tremendous confidence in John Chen. John engineered a successful turnaround and has the company repositioned to apply its strengths and assets to the Enterprise of Things, an emerging category with massive potential,” said board member Prem Watsa.
BlackBerry-branded handsets are designed and sold by TCL, which also designs devices under the Alcatel brand.
