Northwest & Ethical Investments LP, or NEI, had put forth a motion to be considered at the company's annual meeting in mid July asking shareholders to approve a policy that would have divided the role of chair and CEO.
RIM co-chief executives Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis currently also serve as co-chairmen of the company.
RIM agreed Thursday to establish a board committee of independent directors to study the matter and report on the issue by next January.
The committee will also examine the necessity for RIM's co-CEOS to have significant board level titles and propose a governance structure for RIM.
Proxy advisory firms Glass Lewis and Co. and ISS had both recommended shareholders vote to support the NEI motion at the company's annual meeting to be held in Waterloo, Ont. on July 12.
NEI Investments was created through a joint venture between Desjardins financial group and Canada's credit unions, merging Northwest Mutual Funds Inc. and The Ethical Funds Company.
NEI has offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and is owned 50 per cent by the Provincial Credit Union Centrals and 50 per cent by Desjardins Group, one of Quebec's biggest financial companies.
RIM has 900 people in Ottawa.
– With files from OBJ Staff
