January 1, 2026: The Proxy Says He Became Berkshire’s CEO

DOCUMENTED

Warren Buffett, 2010. White House photograph associated with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. U.S. government work. Used here for the succession context; not a portrait of Abel.

Berkshire Hathaway’s 2026 definitive proxy states: “GREGORY E. ABEL, age 63, has been a director of the Corporation since 2018 and became Berkshire’s Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2026. He was the Corporation’s Vice Chairman – Non-Insurance Operations between 2018 and 2025.” Elsewhere the same filing says that until December 31, 2025, Warren E. Buffett was CEO and chairman; Abel succeeded him as CEO on January 1, 2026; Buffett continues as chairman and is described as the largest shareholder.

The Daily Wire’s “It’s Warren Buffett’s Last Day On The Job After 60 Years As CEO” recapped the board’s naming of Abel and the January 1 start. The Epoch Times likewise recapped Buffett remaining chairman. Those pieces are reporting. The titles and the January 1 date are in the proxy.

This is not a tribute page. It is not a crime page. No located primary record shows a Trump endorsement, a campaign role, or a personal political office. Compensation figures appear in the proxy; they are not restated here.

Sources

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. 2026 DEF 14A, Abel biography and succession discussion. sec.gov

Company PDF of the same proxy. berkshirehathaway.com

Daily Wire. “It’s Warren Buffett’s Last Day On The Job After 60 Years As CEO.” (reporting). dailywire.com

Epoch Times. “Warren Buffett to Stay On as Berkshire Chairman After Greg Abel Takes Over as CEO.” (reporting). theepochtimes.com

Opinion

The following is commentary by this site. It is not a finding of fact and not a legal conclusion.

Compiler take

New CEO. Old chairman still in the building with a third of the vote. That is the structure the proxy describes. Call it continuity if you want. Call it a hand still on the wheel. Either way, write the date down.