Warren Buffett announced this Friday, September 18, 2026, that he was stepping down from his position as chairman of the board of Berkshire Hathaway. A prominent figure in global investing, t
Warren Buffett announced this Friday, September 18, 2026, that he was stepping down from his position as chairman of the board of Berkshire Hathaway. A prominent figure in global investing, the Oracle of Omaha, aged 96, becomes chairman emeritus. His eldest son, Howard Buffett, succeeds him as chairman of the board. This transition, effective immediately, marks the final stage of the conglomerate’s succession plan.
This decision was expected as part of the Berkshire Hathaway succession plan. Warren Buffett remains a company director but no longer leads its board.
In his letter to shareholders, Buffett summed up this change with a sentence that became particularly personal: “Father Time always wins.” After more than six decades at the head of Berkshire, he believes the time has come to definitively hand over the reins.
The change comes nine months after he stepped down as CEO. Since January 2026, Greg Abel has been leading the group’s operations.
This separation between chairman of the board and CEO thus finalizes a transition prepared over several years.
Howard G. Buffett, 71, has been a board member of Berkshire since 1993. He will not be responsible for managing the conglomerate’s day-to-day activities. His role will mainly relate to the culture and values that shaped Berkshire under Warren Buffett.
In his letter, Warren Buffett clearly summarizes the division of responsibilities: Greg Abel runs the company, while Howard must ensure the preservation of its culture and values.
This organization gives Berkshire a different structure than when Warren Buffett combined the roles of chairman and CEO.
Greg Abel therefore remains the primary person responsible for managing Berkshire Hathaway. Appointed CEO on January 1, 2026, he leads the group’s activities and operational decisions.
For shareholders, the change mainly marks the end of an era. Warren Buffett remains on the board and retains his ties to Berkshire, but the group’s management now rests on a new generation of leaders.
The transition is thus complete: Greg Abel handles the company’s management, while Howard Buffett takes charge of the board’s chairmanship and continuity of Berkshire’s culture.
Investors are now awaiting the next Omaha general meeting to evaluate the trajectory of this new leadership amid the transformation of capital flows and new global macroeconomic trends.
