Warren Buffett, presidente y director general de Berkshire Hathaway, concede una entrevista a Liz Claman en el programa "Countdown to the Closing Bell" de Fox Business Network, el 7 de mayo de 2018, en Omaha, Nebraska. (AP Foto/Nati Harnik, archivo)2025-05-05T11:29:49Z OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Billionaire Warren Buffett will remain with Berkshire Hathaway as chairman of the board when vice chairman Greg Abel takes over as CEO to begin 2026. The board of directors at the cash-rich conglomerate voted Sunday to keep the legendary 94-year-old investor as head of the board, a decision likely to relieve investors worried about Berkshires remarkable winning streak as the U.S. and global economies are beset by tariff shocks, financial turmoil and a growing risk of recession.The board in the same meeting also approved Buffetts chosen successor as CEO, veteran Berkshire executive Greg Abel, 62. In a surprise announcement Saturday, Buffett said he would step down from that top spot at the end of the year.Berkshire Class B shares fell nearly 3% before the opening bell Monday.Macrae Sykes, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, praised the transparent way Buffett announced the transition at the meeting and believes investors can have confidence that he isnt going anywhere. Retaining the position of Chairman means he can continue to mentor Greg and the Berkshire leaders, while also providing additional intellectual capacity when the inevitable time for more major capital allocation occurs, Sykes said. In six decades at the helm, Buffett turned a Massachusetts textile company into a sprawling but nimble conglomerate that owns everything from Daily Queen and Sees Candies to BNSF Railway and giant insurers. As the company grew, Warrens reputation grew with it as shares of Berkshire Hathaway climbed steadily, exceeding major indexes by wide margins and returning an average 19.9% each year versus 10.4% for the Standard & Poors 500. The decision to continue with the so-called Sage of Omaha as head of the board came amid speculation that Howard Buffett, the second-born of the investors three children, would move into that spot. The older Buffett has said that after he dies he would like Howard to take over as chairman. A current vice-chairman, Abel, will take over as CEO as big questions hover over the company. Buffett himself has said President Donald Trumps tariffs were a big mistake. There are also worries that Berkshire might not able to avoid the fate of most conglomeratesforced to break up to recapture focus.Then there is Berkshires $348 billion in cash. Buffett says he doesnt see many bargains to invest that money in now, not even Berkshires own stock, but assured some of the estimated 40,000 attendees of the companys celebratory weekend annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, that one day the company would be bombarded with opportunities.Abel, a low-key Canadian with a love a hockey, has been overseeing many of Berkshires non-insurance businesses for years, but has not been deciding where to invest the companys cash.Buffett said his trust in Abel can seen in where he is putting his money.I have no intention zero of selling one share of Berkshire Hathaway. I will give it away eventually, Buffett said. The decision to keep every share is an economic decision because I think the prospects of Berkshire will be better under Gregs management than mine. What to do with that personal fortune, nearly $170 billion, will eventually be in the hands of Buffetts three children, including would-be Berkshire chairman, Howard Buffett.Howard was designated in June along with his siblings as manager of Buffetts trust when he dies and he said that they will decide where to donate that money. Buffett has already given away billions, most notable more than $40 billion to the Gates Foundation started by Bill and Melinda French Gates.Howard, 70, has his own foundation through which he has donated billions to humanitarian and food security causes, including helping coffee farms in El Salvador and clearing landmines in Ukraine.Tributes to Buffett came tumbling in over the weekend praising his investment savvy and folksy management style.Theres never been someone like Warren, and countless people, myself included, have been inspired by his wisdom, Apple CEO Tim Cook posted on X. Its been one of the great privileges of my life to know him. JP Morgans CEO Jamie Dimon said Buffett represented everything that is good about American capitalism and America itself, and praised his integrity, optimism and common sense.____AP Business writer Bernard Condon is in New York City. AP Business Writer Michelle Chapman contributed to this report from New York City. BERNARD CONDON Condon is an Associated Press investigative reporter covering breaking news. He has written about the Maui fire, the Afghanistan withdrawal, gun laws, Chinese loans in Africa and Trumps business. twitter facebook mailto JOSH FUNK Funk is an Associated Press reporter who covers all the major freight railroads including Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX, Canadian National and CPKC. Funk also covers Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway and has been attending Buffetts Woodstock for Capitalists annual meeting every spring in Omaha, Nebraska, for 19 years. twitter mailto