John S. Chen is a renowned leader in the tech industry, known for his innovative approach to business. He's the former CEO of BlackBerry Limited and Chairman of the board of directors.
Chen served as the President and CEO of Sybase from 1998 to 2005, leading the company through a period of significant growth and expansion. This experience laid the groundwork for his future leadership roles.
Under Chen's leadership, Sybase made a strategic decision to sell to SAP in 2010 for $6.8 billion, marking a major milestone in his career.
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Early Life and Career
John S. Chen was born in Hong Kong, tracing his ancestral origin to Wuxi, Jiangsu.
Chen's family migrated from Shanghai during the Chinese civil war, which had a significant impact on his life.
He studied at La Salle College in Hong Kong until Form 5, before moving to the United States to further his education.
Chen graduated from Brown University in 1978 with a B.S. in electrical engineering, magna cum laude.
He then went on to earn his M.S. in electrical engineering from Caltech in 1979.
Chen began his career in 1979 as a design engineer with Unisys, a company where he would eventually hold several high-level positions.
He eventually served as vice president and general manager of the Convergent RISC Platform Division and the Convergent UNIX Systems Group at Unisys.
In 1991, Chen joined Pyramid Technology Corporation as executive vice president, a role that would lay the foundation for his future success.
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BlackBerry Executive Chairman and CEO
John Chen was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chair of BlackBerry's Board of Directors on November 4, 2013.
He's a distinguished leader with 40 years of experience in the tech industry, having served as Chairman and CEO of Sybase Inc. where he led the company's transformation into a high-growth innovator.
Under his direction, Sybase achieved 55 consecutive quarters of profitability and became the leading provider of enterprise mobility and mobile commerce solutions.
John holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Brown University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and a master's in electrical engineering from California Institute of Technology.
He's received awards for his leadership in building US-Asia relations and corporate board work, including honors from the US-Asia Institute and the U.S.-China Policy Foundation.
John serves on the boards of The Walt Disney Company and Wells Fargo & Co, and is also active in the not-for-profit community, serving as a trustee of Caltech and a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.
BlackBerry's market share dropped significantly under Chen's predecessor, from 40% in 2010 to just 1% by 2016.
However, John Chen's leadership helped the company pivot towards security services and software, and it achieved a 4% revenue growth in fiscal Q3 of 2021.
He acquired Encription, a UK cybersecurity company, in 2016, and later acquired Cylance, a security software start-up, for $1.4 billion in cash in February 2019.
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Awards
John S. Chen has received numerous awards and honors for his outstanding achievements. He was awarded the Brown Engineering Alumni Medal (BEAM) in 2003 by the Brown University School of Engineering.
In July 2007, Chen was recognized as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. This prestigious award is a testament to his leadership and entrepreneurial spirit.
Chen has also received awards from the US-Asia Institute in 2009, the U.S.-China Policy Foundation, and the California-Asia Business Council in 2007. These organizations recognize Chen's contributions to promoting economic and cultural exchange between the US and Asia.
The U.S.-Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation has recognized Chen for his corporate board work, a testament to his commitment to giving back to the community. Chen has also been recognized by various institutions for his contributions to education and business.
Chen holds an honorary professorship from Shanghai University, and has received honorary doctorates from San Jose State University, City University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
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Personal Life
John Chen is a devoted family man. He married Sherry Hsi Chen and they have four children together.
John Chen is also committed to giving back to his community. As a trustee of Caltech, he plays an important role in the organization's decision-making process.
John Chen's family is a top priority, and he's fortunate to have a loving wife and four children.
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Professional Affiliations
John S. Chen has been a director on the board of the Walt Disney Company from 2004-2019.
He has also served on the board of the CIT Group Inc.
As of September 2016, Chen maintains stock holdings in the Walt Disney Company valued in the single-digit millions of dollars.
Chen has served as a member of the New York Stock Exchange's listing advisory committee.
He has also served on the boards of several high-tech start-ups, including Beyond.com, Niku Corporation, Wafer Technology, and Turbolinux US.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who saved BlackBerry?
John Chen was hired to lead BlackBerry's turnaround. He took over as CEO in 2015 to revive the struggling smartphone company.
Who is the CEO of Sybase?
The CEO of Sybase is John S. Chen, who also serves as Chairman and President. He led the company during its significant growth and development.
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