Thorsten Heins (born 29 December 1957) is a German-Canadian businessman and the former chief executive officer (CEO) of BlackBerry. He stepped down as CEO of BlackBerry and was replaced by John Chen on November 4, 2013. Heins later served as the CEO of Powermat Technologies.[1][2]
Heins was born in Gifhorn, Germany in 1957. He has a graduate diploma in science and physics from the University of Hannover. Heins has a daughter and a son with his wife, Petra.[3]
Careeredit
Siemensedit
Heins spent 23 years working at Siemens. He served in several positions related to wireless technology including the chief technology officer of Siemens' communications division and several general management roles in hardware and software.[4]
BlackBerryedit
Heins joined Research In Motion (now BlackBerry) in 2007. He rose through the ranks starting as senior vice president of BlackBerry's handheld unit; chief operating officer for product engineering, and finally chief operating officer for product and sales in July 2011.[5] In January 2012, Heins was named to succeed co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis as president and CEO. During his time as CEO, the company continued to struggle in a rapidly changing market. Heins was responsible for BlackBerry's development of the BlackBerry 10 line of consumer and enterprise devices. In 2012, Heins was named Cantech Letter's 2012 TSX Executive of the Year[6] and ranked a year later as third on a list of the worst CEOs of 2013.[7]
Heins was replaced by John Chen, a veteran Silicon Valley executive, during a November 2013 management shakeup and left the company with a $13.8 million severance.[8][4] Prem Watsa, the board member who recruited John Chen said, "Thorsten did a very good job given the hand that he was dealt, but resigned because you can’t have two people being in charge. He said to me, ‘It’s very appropriate for me to resign. I like John Chen, but I’m a CEO and there is one person in charge.’"[2]
Powermatedit
After leaving BlackBerry in 2013, Heins went on to become the chairman and CEO of Powermat Technologies. During Heins' tenure Powermat secured an agreement from Samsung to incorporate its wireless charging technology into future smartphones.[9]
Heins found himself in the middle of a battle between two factions on Powermat's board. Since October 2015, he and some board members were the target of a lawsuit by other Powermat board members led by founder Ran Poliakane for allegedly running the company without an approved budget. Investors like Goldman Sachs and Hudson Clean Energy backed Heins. Heins and other board members, constituting a majority of the directors, countersued. Heins resigned from Powermat in July 2016. Heins' resignation helped settle the lawsuits just mentioned and allowed for new investment from several important shareholders.[10] Heins had earlier threatened to leave due to what he called a hostile work environment.[11][12]
Public serviceedit
As of 2012, Heins served on the board of the German Canadian Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Toronto.[3] As of 2016, Heins serves on the University of Waterloo's board of governors.[13]
^"Thorsten Heins: Cantech Letter's 2012 TSX Executive of the Year". Cantech Letter. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 2015-03-31.
^"The worst CEOs of 2013". BBC. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
^Arthur, Charles (2013-11-04). "BlackBerry fires CEO Thorsten Heins as $4.7bn Fairfax rescue bid collapses". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
^"Despite rumours, former BlackBerry head Thorsten Heins remains CEO of Powermat". MobileSyrup. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
^Cheng, Roger (28 June 2016). "Ex-BlackBerry CEO Heins resigns from wireless charging company". CNET. United States. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
^Jain, Aman (30 June 2012). "Former BlackBerry Ltd CEO Heins Quits As Powermat CEO". ValueWalk. United States. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
^Slater-Robbins, Max (11 December 2015). "The ex-CEO of BlackBerry is being sued by members of his board for allegedly creating a 'serious trust crisis'". Business Insider UK. United Kingdom. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
^"Board of Governors - membership". Secretariat. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
External linksedit
Media related to Thorsten Heins at Wikimedia Commons
thorsten, heins, born, december, 1957, german, canadian, businessman, former, chief, executive, officer, blackberry, stepped, down, blackberry, replaced, john, chen, november, 2013, heins, later, served, powermat, technologies, born, 1957, december, 1957, gifh. Thorsten Heins born 29 December 1957 is a German Canadian businessman and the former chief executive officer CEO of BlackBerry He stepped down as CEO of BlackBerry and was replaced by John Chen on November 4 2013 Heins later served as the CEO of Powermat Technologies 1 2 Thorsten HeinsBorn 1957 12 29 29 December 1957 age 65 Gifhorn West GermanyNationalityGerman CanadianAlma materUniversity of HannoverOccupation s Technology executive former CEO of Powermat Technologies former CEO of BlackBerry Contents 1 Early life education and family 2 Career 2 1 Siemens 2 2 BlackBerry 2 3 Powermat 3 Public service 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life education and family editHeins was born in Gifhorn Germany in 1957 He has a graduate diploma in science and physics from the University of Hannover Heins has a daughter and a son with his wife Petra 3 Career editSiemens edit Heins spent 23 years working at Siemens He served in several positions related to wireless technology including the chief technology officer of Siemens communications division and several general management roles in hardware and software 4 BlackBerry edit Heins joined Research In Motion now BlackBerry in 2007 He rose through the ranks starting as senior vice president of BlackBerry s handheld unit chief operating officer for product engineering and finally chief operating officer for product and sales in July 2011 5 In January 2012 Heins was named to succeed co CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis as president and CEO During his time as CEO the company continued to struggle in a rapidly changing market Heins was responsible for BlackBerry s development of the BlackBerry 10 line of consumer and enterprise devices In 2012 Heins was named Cantech Letter s 2012 TSX Executive of the Year 6 and ranked a year later as third on a list of the worst CEOs of 2013 7 Heins was replaced by John Chen a veteran Silicon Valley executive during a November 2013 management shakeup and left the company with a 13 8 million severance 8 4 Prem Watsa the board member who recruited John Chen said Thorsten did a very good job given the hand that he was dealt but resigned because you can t have two people being in charge He said to me It s very appropriate for me to resign I like John Chen but I m a CEO and there is one person in charge 2 Powermat edit After leaving BlackBerry in 2013 Heins went on to become the chairman and CEO of Powermat Technologies During Heins tenure Powermat secured an agreement from Samsung to incorporate its wireless charging technology into future smartphones 9 Heins found himself in the middle of a battle between two factions on Powermat s board Since October 2015 he and some board members were the target of a lawsuit by other Powermat board members led by founder Ran Poliakane for allegedly running the company without an approved budget Investors like Goldman Sachs and Hudson Clean Energy backed Heins Heins and other board members constituting a majority of the directors countersued Heins resigned from Powermat in July 2016 Heins resignation helped settle the lawsuits just mentioned and allowed for new investment from several important shareholders 10 Heins had earlier threatened to leave due to what he called a hostile work environment 11 12 Public service editAs of 2012 Heins served on the board of the German Canadian Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Toronto 3 As of 2016 Heins serves on the University of Waterloo s board of governors 13 See also edit nbsp Biography portalList of German CanadiansReferences edit Former BlackBerry CEO Heins Named Chairman of Startup Powermat Bloomberg News Retrieved 2015 03 31 a b Perkins Tara 11 November 2013 Never asked former CEO Heins to leave BlackBerry Watsa says Globe and Mail Canada Retrieved 13 July 2013 a b Sacco Al 2012 01 23 10 Things to Know About RIM s New CEO Thorsten Heins CIO Retrieved 2020 03 20 a b Cheng Roger 22 November 2014 Ex BlackBerry CEO Heins I have no regrets Q amp A CNET United States Retrieved 13 July 2016 Thorsten Heins Executive Profile amp Biography BusinessWeek Retrieved 2012 01 23 dead link Thorsten Heins Cantech Letter s 2012 TSX Executive of the Year Cantech Letter 11 January 2013 Retrieved 2015 03 31 The worst CEOs of 2013 BBC Retrieved 2014 06 06 Arthur Charles 2013 11 04 BlackBerry fires CEO Thorsten Heins as 4 7bn Fairfax rescue bid collapses The Guardian Retrieved 2013 11 04 Despite rumours former BlackBerry head Thorsten Heins remains CEO of Powermat MobileSyrup 2016 03 02 Retrieved 2020 03 20 Cheng Roger 28 June 2016 Ex BlackBerry CEO Heins resigns from wireless charging company CNET United States Retrieved 13 July 2016 Jain Aman 30 June 2012 Former BlackBerry Ltd CEO Heins Quits As Powermat CEO ValueWalk United States Retrieved 13 July 2016 Slater Robbins Max 11 December 2015 The ex CEO of BlackBerry is being sued by members of his board for allegedly creating a serious trust crisis Business Insider UK United Kingdom Retrieved 13 July 2016 Board of Governors membership Secretariat 2012 05 08 Retrieved 2020 03 20 External links edit nbsp Media related to Thorsten Heins at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Quotations related to Thorsten Heins at WikiquoteBusiness positionsPreceded byJim Balsillie Mike Lazaridis co chairs BlackBerry CEO2012 2013 Succeeded byJohn S Chen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thorsten Heins amp oldid 1157591191, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
