Berkshire Hathaway Under New Leadership: What Comes Next for Abel

Warren Buffett stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway on September 18, after decades of leading the conglomerate. He remains a director and has taken the title of chairman emeritus.

Buffett was succeeded by Howard Graham Buffett, one of his sons, who is now the new chairman of the board. This marks a significant change in leadership for Berkshire Hathaway, which has been under the guidance of Buffett since 1965.

Greg Abel, who took over as CEO of Berkshire on January 1, 2026, will continue to lead the company's strategic decisions. He has already made significant changes to the portfolio, including increasing the stake in Alphabet and reducing positions in smaller companies.

Abel has stated that he plans to maintain a concentrated approach to investing, focusing on core holdings such as Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, and Moody's. These companies have seen significant returns for Berkshire shareholders, with a combined market value of $158.617 billion as of December 31, 2025.

Abel has also made it clear that he will make high-value, high-conviction bets on promising opportunities. With a cash pile of $365.5 billion, he has the resources to pursue significant investments in public stock or businesses outright.