RIM founder Mike Lazaridis leaves BlackBerry

Fifteen months after stepping down as co-CEO, RIM founder Mike Lazaridis is leaving BlackBerry’s board entirely. As part of today’s earnings report, the BlackBerry board announced that Lazaridis will step down from his current role of Vice Chair of the Board on May 1st. “With the launch of BlackBerry 10, I believe I have fulfilled my commitment to the Board... I believe I am leaving the company in good hands.”

Lazaridis founded the company in 1984 as Research in Motion, and served as CEO alongside Jim Balsillie until last year. Balsillie has already parted ways with the company, and last month announced he had sold all of his shares in the company. BlackBerry’s current CEO Thorsten Heins said of Lazaridis:

“I admire Mike for his many achievements and for his vision in helping bring BlackBerry 10 to fruition... On a personal level, I am grateful to Mike for his help, guidance and advice during my first 15 months as CEO of BlackBerry. I wish him all the best.”