BlackBerry CEO John Chen gets $128-million award to stay on for at least 5 more years

BlackBerry Ltd. Chief Executive Officer John Chen signed a new contract worth at least US$128 million to keep him on the job for at least five years.

The pay package includes 10 million restricted stock grants — valued at $128 million as of Wednesday’s close — that will vest through November 2023, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company said Thursday in a statement. Half will pay out if share-price goals of US$16 to US$20 are reached. He’ll also get a performance-based cash award if the stock hits US$30. The value of the cash grant will be disclosed in the company’s proxy circular in May, according to the statement.

‘You better not screw with us’: BlackBerry seeks new life from old patents to stem sales decline
BlackBerry files lawsuit against Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram for patent infringement
Blackberry’s John Chen marks Detroit auto show debut with launch of cybersecurity software

Since taking over in 2013, Chen has turned the company from a fallen smartphone maker into a smaller and leaner seller of security-focused software. He’s cut thousands of employees and got out of the phone business completely. BlackBerry has also become more aggressive in pursuing patent claims against firms benefiting from technology the Canadian firm maintains it invented years ago.

BlackBerry shares climbed 15 per cent this year through Wednesday to US$12.80 in New York, after gaining 62 per cent last year.

Chen’s base salary and annual bonus will remain at US$1 million and US$2 million, respectively. Over the past two years, Chen, 62, has voluntarily requested that his cash bonus be paid in shares, according to last year’s proxy filing.

Bloomberg.com

1 Comments
 

Natus voluptates deserunt vel et. Sint ut qui in itaque nemo. Aperiam voluptates non quas at.

Hic debitis molestiae voluptas et atque sed. Sit omnis vero dicta autem magnam in. Quibusdam est dolor incidunt exercitationem recusandae magni. Illum consequuntur placeat aspernatur et maiores sint id et. Officia repellendus culpa suscipit suscipit quis distinctio iure. Inventore aut tempore in excepturi blanditiis.

Sit sed ex iusto repellat. Laudantium id odio maiores. Id quia ea consequuntur dolorem necessitatibus.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • Blackstone Group 99.2%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Ardian 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (38) $81
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (353) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”