For Microsoft's money man, key is knowing when to spend, when to save - Seattle Post Intelligencer- Topic: BuildingWebsiteNews

Microsoft finance chief Chris Liddell has endorsed some of the biggest bets in the company's history — putting billions toward acquisitions, investments, construction and stock buybacks. Microsoft finance chief Chris Liddell, a New Zealand native, displays a New Zealand All Blacks rugby jersey in his office. For example, he seeks to motivate Microsoft's finance employees with awards named after the traditional "haka" war dance performed by his beloved New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. In the job, Liddell has been through some bumpy periods — most notably the time in 2006 when Microsoft's supersized annual spending plan surprised Wall Street and deflated the company's stock price. For example, the finance department has started its own version of "ThinkWeek," an adaptation of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates' practice of periodically taking time to read selected employee papers about the future of technology and other topics. The New Zealand rugby team performs the intimidating haka dance before games, and that inspired the name of the awards Liddell gives to top performers in the finance division. read more

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