BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) has hired a new COO and CMO. Kristian Tear joins the company as Chief Operating Officer, with Frank Boulben taking on the mantle of Chief Marketing Officer.

Tear joins RIM from Sony Mobile Communications, where he served as executive vice president. He previously held a variety of operational leadership positions with Ericsson in Europe, Asia and Latin America. At RIM, he will oversee all operational functions for handhelds and services, including research and development, products, global sales, manufacturing and supply chain. 

Boulben is the former executive vice president of strategy, marketing and sales for LightSquared. He joined LightSquared after serving as global director of commercial strategy for Vodafone Group, and as Executive vice president of brand and consumer marketing for Orange Group. He will oversee RIM’s global marketing efforts.
“Kristian and Frank bring extensive knowledge of the rapidly changing wireless global market and will help RIM as we sharpen our focus on delivering long-term value to our stakeholders,” says RIM president and CEO, Thorsten Heins.“Most importantly, both Kristian and Frank possess a keen understanding of the emerging trends in mobile communications and computing.”