Loading…
Warren Buffett, 96, stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway on 18 September 2026, ending a run in the chair that began in 1970.
He becomes Chairman Emeritus and stays on the board of directors.
His son Howard Buffett, 71, a Berkshire director since 1993, takes over as chairman.
Greg Abel, who became President and CEO on 1 January 2026, continues to run the company's operations - separating board leadership from executive management.
Berkshire Hathaway, based in Omaha, Nebraska, became the first US company outside the technology sector to cross a $1 trillion market value, on 28 August 2024.
US conglomerate with holdings in insurance, railways, energy, manufacturing, retail and finance; one of the world's most closely watched investment vehicles
The board of directors sets policy and supervises management; its head is the chairman. The CEO runs daily operations. 'Chairman Emeritus' is an honorary title for a retired chairman who keeps a formal link - here, a board seat without the chair.
Simple Analogy: The chairman owns the rulebook; the CEO plays the match; an emeritus keeps a seat in the dugout.
Buffett takes control of Berkshire Hathaway, then a New England textile company
Buffett becomes chairman of Berkshire Hathaway
Howard Buffett joins the Berkshire board of directors
Buffett begins his large-scale giveaway of Berkshire stock to charitable foundations
Berkshire becomes the first US company outside the technology sector valued at $1 trillion
The board decides Greg Abel will become President and CEO from 1 January 2026
Greg Abel takes charge as President and Chief Executive Officer
Buffett steps down as chairman; Howard Buffett succeeds him, Warren becomes Chairman Emeritus
General Awareness > Business and financial world - institutions, heads and leadership changes
General Awareness > Persons in news and business current affairs
An honorary title for a retired chairman who keeps a formal association with the company - Buffett retains a board seat but not the chair.
A company owning businesses across unrelated sectors; Berkshire spans insurance, railways, energy, manufacturing and retail.
The governance process by which a company prepares in advance for a change of leadership, as Berkshire did over several years.