Head of BlackBerry Messenger latest exec to leave company

The head of BlackBerry Messenger has become the latest in a string of top executives to depart the Waterloo, Ont., smartphone maker.

However, the brief email announcement issued by the company shed little light on the departure ofBBM head Andrew Bocking.

"I can confirm that Andrew Bocking, EVP, BBM has made thedecision to leave BlackBerry. We thank him for his years ofleadership and contribution," company spokeswoman Rebecca Freiburger said.

"The BBM organization remainsa group within BlackBerry and will continue to focus onBlackBerry and BBM strength in messaging and new areas of strengthsuch as mobile marketing, community-building and enterprisemessaging."

Freiburger said John Sims, president, Global EnterpriseSolutions, who has extensive experience in mobile messaging, wouldadd the BBM team to his organization.

BlackBerry head John Chen has made wholesale changes in thecompany's executive offices since taking over aschairman and CEO back in November.

In addition to the many long-time executives who have left, Chenhas brought in a number many new faces, includingmany people he hasworked with in the past.

BBM, which is currently free to users and does not carryadvertisements, is aservice that Chen has indicated he wants tomonetize. However, he has not said how the company plans to do this.