Jim Balsillie has departed RIM just months after stepping down as co-CEO. "As I complete my retirement from RIM, I'm grateful for this remarkable experience and for the opportunity to have worked with outstanding professionals who helped turn a Canadian idea into a global success," he said, though it's difficult to imagine he'd planned on "retiring" so quickly after being realigned within the company.

Other departures today are said to include David Yach and Jim Rowan, CTO of software and COO of global operations, respectively. Clearly, CEO Thorsten Heins looks determined to clean house ahead of BlackBerry 10's debut — and the full removal of Jim Balsillie from the company is a bold start.