Wiki
| Name | James Laurence Balsillie |
| Nick Names | Jim Balsillie |
| Date of Birth | February 03, 1961 |
| Age | 64 years old |
| Place of Birth | Seaforth, Ontario, Canada |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Nationality | - |
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | - |
| Sign of Birth | Aquarius |
| Profession | Businessman |
| Net Worth | $1.8 Billion |
| Founded | BlackBerry Ltd |
James Laurence Balsillie (born February 3, 1961) is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of Research In Motion (RIM), the company that developed and marketed the BlackBerry line of handheld devices. He is also the founder of the Balsillie School of International Affairs at the University of Waterloo, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), and the Centre for Digital Rights.
Balsillie was born in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada, on February 3, 1961. He is the son of John Balsillie, a farmer, and Barbara Balsillie. He has two sisters, Colleen and Susan. Balsillie attended the University of Waterloo, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration in 198
Family
| Parents | |
| Father | Raymond Balsillie |
| Mother | Laurel Balsillie |
| Marital status | - |
| Wife | Heidi Balsillie |
| No of Children | 2 |
| Son | - |
| Daughter | - |
Physical Appearance
| Height |
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| Weight |
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| Hair Color | - |
| Eye Color | - |
| Breast | - |
| Waist | - |
| Hips | - |
| Shoe Size | - |
After graduating from Waterloo, Balsillie worked for Bell Canada for two years. In 1984, he co-founded Research In Motion (RIM) with Mike Lazaridis. RIM developed a line of handheld devices that became known as the BlackBerry. BlackBerry devices were popular with business users because they allowed them to access email and other corporate data from anywhere. RIM's BlackBerry devices were a major success, and the company became one of the most valuable technology companies in the world. Balsillie served as CEO of RIM from 1992 to 2008.
In 2008, Balsillie retired as CEO of RIM. He remains a major shareholder in the company. Balsillie has also been involved in a number of other business ventures, including the ownership of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
Balsillie is a major philanthropist. In 2004, he donated $100 million to the University of Waterloo to establish the Balsillie School of International Affairs. The school is focused on developing leaders in international affairs. In 2012, Balsillie founded the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a non-profit think tank that promotes international cooperation. In 2014, Balsillie founded the Centre for Digital Rights, a non-profit organization that advocates for digital rights
- Jim Balsillie was born in Seaforth, Ontario, where his father, Raymond, worked as an electronics technician for Ontario Hydro, and his mother, Laurel, raised Jim and his siblings.
- The family moved to Peterborough, Ontario in 1966, where Jim spent his formative years.
- Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, he sold Christmas cards door to door at the age of seven and managed multiple newspaper delivery routes during his teen years.
- Additionally, he was involved in various activities such as managing a painting operation, assisting at a Big Brothers of Canada camp, working at a ski hill, and doing maintenance at a trailer park.
- James Balsillie, the founder of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Canadian International Council (CIC), Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA), and the Arctic Research Foundation (ARF), also assumed a director role on RIM's Board of Directors after retiring as co-CEO in January 2012.
- However, he resigned from the Board in March 2012 due to strategic differences with RIM's new leader and CEO, Thorsten Heins, who had abandoned the licensing strategy Balsillie was pursuing.
- Balsillie was a member of the United Nations Panel on Global Sustainability until 2012 and was appointed as the Chair of Sustainable Development Technologies Canada by the Government of Canada in June 2013.
Education
| College | Trinity College |
| University | Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Toronto |
Achievement
Awards and honors
Balsillie has been recognized for his business success and his philanthropic work. He has been inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and the Waterloo Region Business Hall of Fame. He has also received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Order of Canada.
Business achievements:
- Co-founded Research In Motion (RIM), the company that developed the BlackBerry line of handheld devices.
- Led RIM to become one of the most valuable technology companies in the world.
- Served as CEO of RIM from 1992 to 2008.
Philanthropic achievements:
- Donated $100 million to the University of Waterloo to establish the Balsillie School of International Affairs.
- Founded the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a non-profit think tank that promotes international cooperation.
- Founded the Centre for Digital Rights, a non-profit organization that advocates for digital rights.
Other achievements:
- Inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and the Waterloo Region Business Hall of Fame.
- Received the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Order of Canada.
- Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2007 and 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the net worth of Jim Balsillie?
Jim Balsillie's total net worth is around $1.8 Billion.
How old is Jim Balsillie?
Currently, James Laurence Balsillie is 64 years old (Feb 03, 1961).
What is the name of Jim Balsillie’s Wife?
Jim Balsillie was married to Heidi Balsillie.
