"It was an honour to take part in the selection process, and I wish the remaining candidates, and the OECD itself, the very best in the future", Liddell told the Herald at the time.
Cormann, the former Australian Liberal Party member, who made his exit from Parliament late last year, will be the Asia-Pacific region's first head of the Paris-based economic organisation, which represents 37 member countries.
His achievement comes after a failed effort to elect the OECD's first female secretary-general. The Australian reports that Morrison called more than 50 world leaders in the past few moths in a push to ensure the nation's longest-serving finance minister was elected to the post.
He will replace Angel Gurria, of Mexico.
His five-year term begins on June 1.
Climate author Ketan Joshi called it "a permanent dark stain" on the organisation, "and a pretty damn clear statement about their hostility towards climate action and their total support for harmful fossil fuel industries."
Gerald Butts, vice chairman at geopolitical risk firm Eurasia Group, said the OECD could have chosen leaders who implemented climate policies and carbon prices, calling the move "deeply misguided and out of step with the times".
Doug Cameron, former Labor Senator for NSW and head of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, said: "Having served with him in the Senate for 11 years I cannot believe that his opposition to climate action, support for trickle-down economics and anti union ideology is rewarded by appointment to this role."
But Liberal MP Dave Sharma described it as an "excellent result", saying on Twitter Cormann would be "a great asset for the OECD at a critical time".
