LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Today, the company takes advantage of the current growth opportunities in IoT and cybersecurity, and is pioneering the convergence of these two markets.

Under Chen’s leadership, BlackBerry recognised the challenges and intense competition in the mobile handset market. Chen made the strategic decision to shift the company’s focus away from handsets towards cybersecurity and enterprise software solutions. This shift allowed BlackBerry to leverage its expertise in mobile security and capitalise on emerging opportunities in the cybersecurity market.

Having begun to outsource some of its device manufacturing since 2013, the company announced in 2016 that it would be leaving the smartphone manufacturing business.

To kickstart BlackBerry’s cybersecurity consultancy, Chen acquired Encription – a UK cybersecurity company – for an undisclosed amount in 2016. He also acquired Cylance, a security software start-up that uses artificial intelligence to identify and disarm threats, for US$1.4bn in cash in February 2019.

In 2022, BlackBerry announced the end of an era with the decommissioning of its infrastructure and services used by its legacy software and phone operating systems.

“BlackBerry ushered in the mobile workforce and messaging revolutions that changed the world,” Chen wrote in a blog post. “The grandeur of our mission to make the world a better place has not changed.

“Five years ago, we reinvented BlackBerry as a software company, allowing us to stay 100% focused on providing enabling technologies to ensure the safety and security of all the devices and systems you rely on. We invested and invented our way to leadership positions in cybersecurity,