[W Hoa]

Patrick Spence resigned this week to take Sonos job

* Sonos audio equipment wireless controls music playback

* Being passed over for COO job helped push Spence out-source

By Alastair Sharp

TORONTO, May 24 (Reuters) - Patrick Spence, who resigned this week as global head of sales at struggling BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd, has been hired as chief commercial officer at wireless home audio company Sonos Inc, several sources with knowledge of his plans said.

Sonos is a privately held consumer electronics company based in Santa Barbara, California, with offices also in France, Germany, the Netherlands, China and Malaysia.

Sonos was not immediately available to comment. RIM declined to comment beyond a statement issued on Wednesday that said Spence was taking on a leadership role in another industry.

RIM sales chief hired by audio company Sonos-sources | Reuters

[kbz1960]

Good luck to him.

[darmarat]

Could be a future of some cool wireless audio equipment that will blend well with BlackBerry

[kevinnugent]

Could be a future of some cool wireless audio equipment that will blend well with BlackBerry

People who are passed over are generally peeved at their former employers. Normally it's because they were promised something and then subsequently lied to to get what the company wants.

Don't expect any favourable quotes from him about RIM.

[MoolahMitch]

Well at least that solves the reason why he left, it was definitely for personal gain as I cannot believe Sonos has more esteem than RIM.

[sleepngbear]

Typical career move,no big deal really. Happy for the guy for the opportunity to take a step up. 14 years is a good bit of time spend at one company, And there are only so many upward moves wiht a lot more people vying for them than there are opportunities. It happens.

[WinningWithLogic]

Patrick was actually a really well regarded guy. I remember hearing about his rise to the top, and various folks I spoken to who work at RIM held him in very high regard.