DETROIT – General Motors has announced that Chris Liddell was appointed as the company’s vice chairman and chief financial officer. Liddell was most recently CFO for Microsoft Corp., a post he held since May 2005.

"Chris brings a depth and experience to this job that was unmatched in our search for a new financial leader," said Ed Whitacre, GM chairman and 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."

Liddell will start with GM in 2010. While at Microsoft, Liddell was responsible for leading Microsoft Corp.'s worldwide finance organization, which included overseeing acquisitions, corporate strategy, treasury activities, tax planning, accounting and reporting, internal audit, and investor relations. He is leaving Microsoft on December 31 of this year.

Before joining Microsoft, Liddell was CFO at International Paper Co., the world's largest forest products company, with similar responsibilities. Prior to that, he was CEO of Carter Holt Harvey Ltd., then New Zealand's second-largest listed company. He also has 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. He is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Auckland. Liddell was a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Advisory Committee on Improvements to Financial Reporting.