Ex-Microsoft CFO Unexpectedly Quits GM Post

Chris Liddell, who served as Microsoft's chief financial officer during one of the more acquisitive periods in the company's history, has unexpectedly resigned from his position as CFO of General Motors—raising questions about whether Liddell plans to return to the tech industry.

Liddell left Microsoft in January, 2010 to lead the finance team at GM, where he oversaw the company's emergence from restructuring and a public share offering that was the largest in stock market history. "Chris was a major contributor during a pivotal time in the company's history," said GM chairman and CEO Dan Akerson, in a statement.

"He guided the company's IPO process and established a good financial foundation for the future," said Akerson. GM named current finance VP Dan Ammann as its new CFO.

Liddell's sudden departure from GM after just over a year on the job has given rise to speculation about a return to the tech industry as a chief executive. He told CNBC on Thursday that he was no longer interested in serving as a CFO.

One possibility is that Liddell could assume the top spot at Microsoft from current chief Steve Ballmer, who has been criticized for failing to move Microsoft fast enough into new growth markets like tablets and smartphones, where rivals Apple and Google are quickly becoming dominant. If Microsoft's stagnation continues, Ballmer's job could be on the line.

During his tenure at Microsoft, which began in late 2005, Liddell oversaw numerous, key acquisitions, including the buyouts of mobile developer TellMe Networks, digital ad agency aQuantive, and enterprise search specialist Fast Search & Transfer. Since his departure, Microsoft has been silent on the acquisition front with the exception of 3-D sensing technology specialist Canesta, which it bought last October.

Other tech industry possibilities for Liddell include Apple, if current CEO Steve Jobs is unable to return to Cupertino on a full-time basis. Jobs is on a medical leave of absence and is reportedly undergoing cancer treatment at Stanford.

Liddell, 52, could also return to his roots in the paper industry. He was previously CFO of International Paper and CEO of Carter Holt Harvey, a forest products company based in his native New Zealand.