Thorsten Heins

Heins was born in Gifhorn, Germany in 1957. He has a graduate diploma in science and physics from the University of Hannover.

Heins has worked at Siemens, BlackBerry, Powermat Technologies and in public service.

Siemens

Heins spent 23 years working at Siemens. He worked 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.

BlackBerry

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. 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 and ranked a year later as third on a list of the worst CEOs of 2013.

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. 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.’"

Heins has a daughter and a son with his wife, Petra.