Who is Greg Abel, the next man in charge of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway legacy?

Warren Buffett has confirmed that longtime Berkshire Hathaway executive Greg Abel will succeed him as CEO, marking a generational shift at the helm of the $860 billion conglomerate. The board is expected to formally approve Abel’s appointment by the end of the year.

Abel, 62, has served as Buffett’s key deputy for more than a decade, overseeing Berkshire’s vast portfolio of non-insurance businesses, including BNSF Railway, Dairy Queen, and See’s Candies.

A Canadian native and former energy executive, Abel has led Berkshire Hathaway Energy since 2011 and is known for his disciplined, detail-oriented management style.

Buffett, 93, said during the firm’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha that Abel was chosen not just for his experience, but also for his “high integrity” and “strategic thinking.” Board members and subsidiary CEOs have consistently praised Abel for his sharp instincts and responsiveness.

“Greg will keep the culture,” the late Vice Chairman Charlie Munger once remarked, referring to Berkshire’s famously decentralised structure, which relies on independent leadership and long-term thinking.

Abel is not expected to move to Omaha, as he currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa — a reflection of Berkshire’s hands-off operational philosophy. The company employs nearly 400,000 people across its many holdings, from railroads and retail to energy and insurance.

Though analysts note that matching Buffett’s market-beating legacy is unlikely, there is broad consensus that Abel is well-positioned to preserve the company’s stability and ethos.