One of the biggest automobile manufacturing firms in the United States, General Motors has announced the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Christopher P. Liddell, who has been picked up from the internet giant Microsoft, where he served as a CFO and Vice President and also conceived lay off plans amounting to the company savings of $3 billion.

Since the recession and the hits taken by the automobile industry, CEO of General Motors, Edward E. Whitacre Jr. has been planning extensively to bring the company up to the glory and success that it previously enjoyed, for which the management of the company needs to be greatly strengthened. The appointment of Mr. Liddell to the position of CFO, comes at a time when GM is promoting its existing executives to higher ranks and making room for new and innovative people.

Christopher P. Liddell replaces Ray Young as the Chief Financial Officer for General Motors, who had been relieved of his duties about three months ago, after more than an year of association with GM. There are also talks of Mr. Liddell moving to the top a spot of CEO of GM, as soon as the position is available either after Mr. Whitacre voluntarily steps down or as per circumstances.

According to Michael Useem (Management Professor, University of Pennsylvania),

“The C.F.O. office is historically one of the tickets to the corner office. Finance has become so critical in how companies operate and where the value is being created. Obviously any C.F.O. is well positioned to be considered.”

Via New York Times.