Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and longtime CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, will step down at the end of 2025. His successor is Greg Abel, a reserved Canadian executive who has been quietly shaping the future of the conglomerate behind the scenes. As the company enters a new chapter, all eyes are on Abel to see how he will carry forward Buffett’s legacy.
A new era begins at Berkshire Hathaway
Greg Abel, 62, will take the reins of a $1.1 trillion empire, inheriting nearly 400,000 employees and 189 companies. Unlike Buffett, whose fame comes from brilliant investments, Abel is known for his strong operational leadership and no-nonsense pragmatism. He has overseen Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses since 2018 and joined the company in 2000 via the acquisition of MidAmerican Energy.
The man behind the operations
Where Buffett was charismatic and media-savvy, Abel is discreet and intensely focused on performance. He’s regarded as less tolerant of underperformance and more direct in his business dealings. Buffett once joked, “He’s better than me, but don’t tell anyone,” a nod to Abel’s effectiveness in steering complex businesses.
Challenges and continuity
Abel’s biggest test will be managing Berkshire’s record cash pile of $347.7 billion, a task that even Buffett has struggled with in recent years. He won’t oversee investments directly—that responsibility remains with Todd Combs and Ted Weschler—but he will be the strategic compass for the group. The separation of CEO and chairman roles, along with other structural changes, aims to preserve Berkshire’s values while adapting to a new world.