Article ID: e4a4af79f2ef077201b155d2a6ed2d086c777a9af6c464a6123c2fd14b149cb5
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Warren E. Buffett has been named Chairman Emeritus of Berkshire Hathaway, effective immediately, in recognition of his “extraordinary” contributions to the company and its owners. Chairman Emeritus is an honorary title recognising a retired board chairman’s past service, leadership, and major contributions to an organisation. Although the title is honorary, Buffett will remain a member of the Board of Directors, continuing to offer his valued judgment and perspective. The Board has also elected Howard G. Buffett, a Berkshire director since 1993, as Chairman of the Board. Meanwhile, Susan L. Decker will continue to serve as Lead Independent Director. Greg Abel, Chief Executive Officer of the firm, commented, “Warren’s impact on Berkshire and its owners is without parallel in the history of American business. “The culture Warren built and the values he championed will remain at the heart of Berkshire, and Howard will be their guardian. We are grateful to Howard for the care, discipline, and deep understanding of Berkshire he will bring to his new role, and to Sue Decker for her continued leadership and valued contributions as Lead Independent Director.” In a letter to Berkshire’s shareholders, Warren E. Buffett noted, “Berkshire has an extraordinary group of shareholders. From the beginning, Charlie and I looked for owners who thought in decades rather than quarters, and we were fortunate to find a great many of you. “Recently, I celebrated my 96th birthday with family and friends, including one of my great-grandchildren, who had just turned one. He’s moving a bit faster than I am these days. “I have served Berkshire since 1965. Sixty-plus years in, I still have the best job in the world. That is not something many people my age can say, and I have never felt better about what comes next. “Part of the reason is Greg. My expectations for him were sky high from the start, and he has exceeded them. He has taken hold of the Chief Executive Officer job in every respect. He has been making the decisions that matter for some time now, and I have not had to think twice about any of them. “So the timing is right to complete the transition. I will become Chairman Emeritus and remain a Director. My son, Howard, will succeed me as Chairman. “Howard has been a Berkshire Director for 33 years. That is a longer apprenticeship than I served before taking the reins at the age of 34. Greg runs the company; Howard will guard its culture and values – both worth more than anything on our balance sheet. Think of Howard as a policy the shareholders own and hope never to claim against. “Howard cares deeply about Berkshire, as do all of our Directors. No company has been or will be more shareholder-minded than Berkshire. “Serving as your Chairman has been the privilege of a lifetime, and I have never taken your trust for granted. Father Time always wins. He has, however, been generous with me. “He has given me the opportunity to see Berkshire reach a point where I am more confident than ever about what lies ahead. The company is in excellent hands, and I look forward to remaining a shareholder alongside you.”
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