Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell steps down

Microsoft's chief financial officer Chris Liddell is stepping down from the company at the end of the year.

He has been with the company since 2005 and is succeeded by current divisional CFO Peter Klein.

Liddell was previously CFO at International Paper, a Fortune 100 company, before joining the computer giant. Prior to this he held various roles including chief executive at Carter Holt Harvey, one of New Zealand's largest listed companies, and managing director/joint chief executive at Credit Suisse First Boston in New Zealand.

Liddell told the New Zealand Herald that he had achieved everything he wanted to achieve at Microsoft and his time at the company had come to a natural conclusion.

Klein is currently CFO of Microsoft's Business Division estimated to be worth $18.9bn (£11.5bn). Prior to this he was CFO of Microsoft's server and tools business. Before Microsoft he worked in several startups including HomeGrocer.com where as vice president and treasurer.

In the past year Microsoft made its first company wide redundancies reducing its workforce by approximately 5%. It also managed to cut costs saving $3bn.

Microsoft stopped distribution and sales of its Office Accounting Products just one year after its general release in the UK earlier this year.

Liddell has so far not announced his next role.

The Business Insider reported Liddell was "looking at expanding beyond being a CFO".

Further reading:

Microsoft Office Accounting

Profile interview Chris Liddell