GM announced this morning that it has appointed Chris Liddell as General Motors vice chairman and CFO. Liddell most recently was CFO for Microsoft Corp., a post he had held since May, 2005.
"Chris brings a depth and experience to this job that were unmatched in our search for a new financial leader," said Ed Whitacre, GM chairman & CEO. "Chris will lead our financial and accounting operations on a global basis and will report directly to me. We're also looking to his experience and insights in corporate strategy as a member of the senior leadership team in helping our restructuring efforts."
GM noted that while at Microsoft, Liddell was responsible for leading Microsoft’s worldwide finance organization, which included overseeing acquisitions, corporate strategy, treasury activities, tax planning, accounting and reporting, internal audit, and investor relations.
Liddel is departing Microsoft on December 31 and will start with GM in the new year.
Before joining Microsoft, Liddell was CFO for International Paper Co., the world's largest forest products company, and before that he CEO Carter Holt Harvey Ltd., then New Zealand's second-largest listed company. He also worked as an investment banker as managing director and joint CEO for CS First Boston NZ Ltd.
Liddell, 51, holds an engineering degree with honors from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and a Master of Philosophy degree from Oxford University in England. He has served as director of the New Zealand Rugby Union and governor of the New Zealand Sports Foundation.
