Microsoft's Liddell the architect of Microsoft's acquisition spree?

Was the hiring of New Zealander Chris Liddell a strange choice for Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) CFO post back in 2005? By all accounts, it was. Liddell's background in the paper industry seemed odd as a preparation for leading the finances of the world's largest software company. But, Liddell has proven quite the dealmaker since taking over his post from former CFO John Connors.

He's engineered more than 50 deals since acquiring his post and he's managed to loosen the purse strings from a notoriously stingy company. Microsoft, after all, had over $30 billion in cash at one time and just didn't seem to ever spend it. It even tried to start buying back up to $30 billion in its own shares back in 2004 -- but too many shareholders wanted to hold onto their Microsoft holdings. But, was it Liddell's idea to use about all of Microsoft's cash hoard in offering a money/share split for the recent $44 billion bid for Yahoo!?

The company just this weekend Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) told Microsoft that its bid was just too low. For a company with consistently lowered profits in the last fiscal year, Yahoo! sure has a big head on its shoulders. Should Liddell's idea to have the software giant actually -- gasp -- issue debt be a wise move if its play for Yahoo! moves forward? At the rate Microsoft generates free cash flow, it's not a bad idea.

Say what you will about Old Softie, but the company commands hefty, growing sales every quarter. Liddell's quiet aggressiveness in using acquisitions to drive growth instead of waiting for organic growth is commendable, and it's required. Competitor Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) won't slow down, and Microsoft needs a financially savvy CFO like Liddell to get the company into quick-react mode against all the web-based competition that has now arrived.

[The author holds a long position in MSFT]