Overview
- Abel, 63, a long-time Berkshire executive who oversaw non‑insurance operations, became CEO on January 1, 2026.
- Berkshire enters the new leadership phase with more than $350 billion in cash and short‑term Treasuries and roughly $283 billion in public equities, focusing attention on how that capital will be deployed, including about $900 million of weekly inflows.
- Abel has told shareholders the company’s long‑term, cash‑flow‑driven investment philosophy will remain unchanged.
- Early organizational moves include adding a new chief financial officer, appointing Berkshire’s first general counsel, and promoting the NetJets chief to lead 32 consumer and retail businesses.
- Buffett will not write the next annual shareholder letter, and investors are watching whether Abel outlines his strategy and clarifies his role in the late‑2025 $4.3 billion Alphabet stake.