Liddell leaves Microsoft

Kiwi Chris Liddell will be leaving Microsoft at the end of 2009, with Peter Klein set to take over as the company’s new chief financial officer.Liddell joined Microsoft in May 2005 having previously served as CFO at International Paper Co., and Chief Executive Officer of Carter Holt Harvey. In the past fiscal year he has helped Microsoft reduce costs by $3 billion and helped return $14 billion to shareholders through dividends and stock buy-back. Liddell says he is looking at a number of career opportunities that will expand his career beyond being a CFO.He will work with Klein until the end of the year. Klein has been with Microsoft since February 2002 and currently serves as CFO of Microsoft’s Business Division.