BlackBerry abandons IPO plans for IoT business

BlackBerry appointed the head of its cyber security unit, John Giamatteo, as chief executive officer and shelved a plan to spin off its Internet of Things (IoT) business.

After months of considering strategic options for its businesses, the company said in October it would separate its IoT and cyber security divisions and target a subsidiary initial public offering for the former next fiscal year.

However, BlackBerry said now that it would now only separate the two businesses following a reassessment of that decision.

The shift in plans comes against the backdrop of weak performances of newly listed companies such as Birkenstock, chip designer Arm Holdings and grocery delivery app Instacart/Maplebear.

BlackBerry will also streamline its centralised corporate functions so that each business unit may operate independently and on a profitable and cashflow-positive basis.

Giamatteo, whose appointment is effective immediately, joined BlackBerry in October 2021 as the president of its cyber security business.

He succeeds John Chen, who stepped down in November after a decade at the helm.

Richard Lynch, a director on BlackBerry’s board, served as interim CEO after Chen retired.

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AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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