Microsoft Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Chris Liddell is leaving Microsoft after four a long time to go after other interests,
Windows 7 Professional, enterprise officials introduced via a November 24 press release issued quietly just before the start of the Thanksgiving vacation.Liddell, whose last day is December 31, is becoming replaced by Peter Klein, the CFO of Microsoft;s Organization Division (the unit that manages Office).Microsoft officials attributed Liddell;s departure to his interest in “pursuing opportunities outside of Microsoft that will expand his career beyond becoming a CFO.”Liddell has helped pilot Microsoft via some choppy financial waters over the past few many years, and was part with the team behind Microsoft;s first widescale layoffs.Some shareholders and organization observers — pointing to Microsoft;s continued stalled stock price — have been calling increasingly for CEO Steve Ballmer;s replacement. I wonder whether Liddell;s departure will appease the anti-Ballmer camp, or whether it will give Microsoft watchers even more cause for worry about the enterprise;s future strategic direction.