Christopher Liddell, the chief financial officer of Microsoft, has said he is leaving the computer software giant to pursue other opportunities beyond being a CFO. He will be replaced by Peter Klein, who has been corporate vice president and CFO of the Microsoft business division since February 2006. Klein, who is 47, will be paid $500,000 (£302,000) annually. Microsoft said the salary has been approved as part of the company's executive officer incentive plan. Liddell will carry on in the role until the end of the year. The 51-year-old joined the company in May 2005 after spending time as CFO at International Paper Co and having been chief executive officer of Carter Holt Harvey, which was at the time New Zealand's second largest listed company. The past financial year has seen the company reduce costs by $3bn, and return $14bn to shareholders through dividends and stock buy-back options. Liddell said his time at Microsoft had been an 'outstanding experience', while Klein said he was 'honoured' to be taking on the new role.