Executive Team

Jim Balsillie

Co-Chief Executive Officer

Since 1992, Jim Balsillie has been co-CEO at Research In Motion (RIM), maker of the world renowned BlackBerry wireless solution. At RIM, Jim is responsible for driving corporate strategy, business development, marketing, sales, and finance.

In 2002, Mr. Balsillie founded The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a world-class global research institute focused on the restructuring of international governance. In 2007, Mr. Balsillie announced the creation of the new Canadian International Council (CIC) of which he is the Chair. In 2008, he founded the Balsillie School of International Affairs.

Mr. Balsillie is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He is a chartered accountant and a fellow of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants. He also holds numerous honorary doctorate degrees.

Mike Lazaridis

President and Co-Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Lazaridis is known in the global wireless community as a visionary, innovator, and engineer of extraordinary talent. He traces his passion for his work to his hometown of Windsor, Ontario where his love of science and fascination with electronics were nurtured in supportive family and school environments.

As President and Co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM), a company Mr. Lazaridis founded while a student at UW, he is responsible for product strategy, research and development, product development, and manufacturing. Mr. Lazaridis is also a leader in his community and a passionate advocate for education and scientific research. Mr. Lazaridis supports his community and country through generous philanthropic gifts made possible by his success in business.

He has donated $75 million to UW to help establish an Institute for Quantum Computing. Mr. Lazaridis also personally invested $150 million in the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI) and, through his leadership and tireless effort, has generated more than $100 million in additional private and public sector funding for this world leading centre of scientific excellence. PI is home to a growing cluster of international scientists who are pushing the limits of our fundamental understanding of space, time, matter and information. Since opening in 2001, the institute has attracted the attention of the world’s scientific research and educational outreach community. The independent centre is now associated with over 30 Canadian universities and a growing number of institutes world-wide.

Mr. Lazaridis holds honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Waterloo (Engineering), McMaster University, University of Windsor and Université Laval. He has been awarded Canada's most prestigious innovation prize - The Ernest C. Manning Principal Award and was listed on the TIME 100 List of Most Influential People. Mr. Lazaridis is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, was named to the Order of Ontario and is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Don Morrison

Chief Operating Officer

Don Morrison is COO, BlackBerry at Research In Motion. Don oversees all domestic and international operations focusing on the development and execution of a world-class, customer-driven organization to support the BlackBerry wireless solution.

Before joining RIM in 2000, Don undertook a number of senior leadership positions in Canada, the United States, Europe and the Middle East with AT&T and Bell Canada.

Don holds an MBA and BA from the University of Toronto and also participated in the Executive Program at the University of Virginia, Darden Business School.

Larry Conlee

Chief Operating Officer, Product Development and Manufacturing

Larry Conlee is Chief Operating Officer, Product Development and Manufacturing, at Research In Motion. He oversees RIM's engineering and manufacturing groups to help realize and expand upon RIM's longstanding vision for 'Always On, Always Connected®' computing and communications solutions.

Prior to joining RIM in 2001, Larry held numerous senior leadership positions at Motorola.

Larry holds a BA in Physics from McMurry University, Abilene, Texas, and an MBA, M.S. Management, Cum Laude from Lake Forest School of Management, Lake Forest, Illinois.

Robin Bienfait

Chief Information Officer

Robin Bienfait is the CIO of Research In Motion. Robin oversees BlackBerry Operations and Corporate IT.

Prior to joining RIM, Robin held senior leadership positions within AT&T Labs and Global Network Services.

A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a master’s degree in Management of Technology, Robin also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Central Missouri State University and an associate in business degree from Maryland University – European Division.

Brian Bidulka

Chief Accounting Officer

Brian Bidulka is Chief Accounting Officer at Research In Motion serving as the Company's senior financial officer overseeing all financial reporting and compliance activities.

Prior to joining RIM in 2005, Brian held numerous finance positions at Molson Inc. and Ernst & Young LLP.

Brian received his Chartered Accountant's designation in 1989 and holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University.

David Yach

Chief Technology Officer, Software

David Yach is the CTO for Software at Research In Motion. David oversees and manages the development of software that has helped RIM become a world leader in the mobile communications market. David's teams create software ranging from the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to the applications, operating systems and radio firmware on BlackBerry smartphones.

Prior to joining RIM in 1998, David held various leadership positions at Sybase Inc.

David holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.