Microsoft names Amy Hood new finance chief

Ms Hood worked at the Office division, the company's most profitable unit

Microsoft has named Amy Hood as its new chief financial officer, the first woman to hold the post at the technology giant.

Ms Hood, 41, is currently head of finance at Microsoft's Office division. She will replace Peter Klein, who announced his departure in April.

She joined Microsoft in 2002. Before that she worked at Goldman Sachs.

The change in personnel comes as the company is battling a decline in consumer PC sales.

"Amy brings the right talents and experiences to the role as we continue to strengthen our focus on devices and services," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive.

While at the Office division, Ms Hood worked on the acquisitions of online chat service Skype and business networking company Yammer.

Some had tipped Tami Reller, head of finance at Microsoft's Windows division, to replace Mr Klein.

Mr Klein's departure was announced just months after Steven Sinofsky, the head of Windows, quit the firm.

The departures of the two senior figures have come as there have been questions over the leadership of chief executive Steve Ballmer and as the group's latest operating system Windows 8 has come under fire.