When it comes to investment legends, one name stands out above the rest- Warren Buffett. Buffett is known to many as the “Oracle of Omaha,” and led Berkshire Hathaway for decades as it grew into one of the world’s most admired companies. But now, in 2025, Buffett has officially ceded control.
Source: News Week
And the man who will fill those shoes is Greg Abel, Buffett’s long-time right hand and now designated successor. As Abel takes the role of CEO for Berkshire Hathaway, the investment world is full of speculation about Greg Abel: Who is he? What is it about him that makes him special enough to succeed Warren Buffett? What does it mean for Berkshire going forward?
This blog will sort it out for you to understand who Greg Abel is, how he got to where he is in Berkshire, and what Warren Buffett seems to believe in him. By the end, you will understand why Warren Buffett trusts Greg Abel with his $900 billion empire.
The Legacy of Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway
Warren Buffett has been the figurehead of Berkshire Hathaway for over six decades. His investment decisions transformed a failing textile business into a conglomerate worth $900 billion. Buffett’s investment decisions shifted industries in insurance, energy, railroads, and consumer goods.
Until Buffett looked aged and spoke less, the investment world had been speculating about who would succeed him as his time at the top nears its end. The question lingered for over a decade: who could be Warren Buffett’s successor? In 2025, that decision was made official: Greg Abel.
Who is Greg Abel?
Greg Abel is not a household name like Warren Buffett, but he is well-known and respected in many business circles. Abel was born in Edmonton, Canada, in 1962, and studied commerce at the University of Alberta. He began his career at the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers before entering the energy sector.
Source: AP News
In the early 1990s, Abel’s career began to take flight when he joined MidAmerican Energy. After the company transitioned to Berkshire Hathaway Energy, it became the deal that brought Abel closest to Buffett. The investment acumen and temperament of Abel led Buffett to trust him.
Abel’s Journey at Berkshire Hathaway
Greg Abel rose through the ranks of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. By 2008, he was appointed CEO of the unit. Under his leadership, Berkshire Hathaway Energy was at the forefront of renewable energy investing billions into wind, solar, and natural gas projects.
Buffett admired Abel’s disciplined approach to business and long-term value generation. In 2018, Abel’s reach grew even more when he was appointed Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway’s non-insurance operations. In that role, Abel was essentially one of Buffett’s closest officers.
Why Warren Buffett Chose Greg Abel as Successor
Integrity, discipline, and long-term thinking are key values that Buffett has prioritized throughout his career. At the 2021 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting, Buffett declared unequivocally that Greg Abel would succeed him in that role, which was the first official notification of that future role.
Buffett had built his trust in Abel over the course of decades. Abel always used sound judgment, was very calm in making decisions under highly stressful conditions, and clearly exhibited sound intuition during financial crises. As Warren put it, “Greg is ready.”
The Official Transition in 2025
In May 2025, the transition officially took place. Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and Greg Abel assumed the role. The end of one chapter, but the beginning of another.
All eyes were on him, and the future of Berkshire’s stability would depend on either being able to carry on Buffett’s legacy while also putting forth his own vision.
Abel’s Leadership Style
While Buffett is charismatically public and operates in the limelight, Abel is the opposite. He likes to remain in the background and focus on fundamentals as opposed to the media.
Abel’s leadership style has some key distinguishing characteristics:
- Pragmatism – He is focused on practical information that is generated by data.
- Long-term vision – Like Buffett, he avoids short-term speculations.
- Sustainability- He has a strong emphasis on renewable energy and environmental stewardship in his renewable-energy-informed investment plans of Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
- Hands-off trust – He follows the approach of allowing managers of each of the numerous companies he is responsible for under Berkshire to run as they wish.
Challenges for Abel as CEO
Greg Abel faces several challenges in 2025 as CEO:
- Investor Expectations – Buffett’s achievements set an almost impossible standard. Abel has to balance honoring that legacy with being his own leader.
- Economic Uncertainty – Financial markets are still unpredictable around the world. Abel’s judgment will be tested as he leads Berkshire Hathaway in uncertain times.
- Sustainability Pressures – As the company focuses on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), Abel’s knowledge and expertise about renewable energy might come in handy for Berkshire Hathaway and fit with the social pressures from investors today.
- Portfolio Growth – Because of Berkshire’s sheer size, it could be difficult for Abel to source new investments that will support their 100-year growth plans. He will have to figure out ways to capture growth within the confines of a disciplined, Buffett-style strategy.
The Future of Berkshire Hathaway under Greg Abel
Many experts suggest that Abel will continue Buffett’s principles around value investing, patience, and the independence of the operating subsidiaries. However, because of Abel’s background in energy, it may indicate that there might also be increased exposure to clean energy and infrastructure.
Abel may never replicate Buffett’s charm, but many include Abel in long-term stability. Therefore, if investors have doubts, they can surely find entertainment in their portfolio as Berkshire Hathaway stock continues to perform robustly following its next-generation leadership.
Greg Abel taking over as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in 2025 isn’t just about transition. It’s about continuity. Berkshire’s decentralized structure requires a leader who recognizes the importance of allowing managers to operate independently, while also maintaining Buffett’s legacy of high moral and ethical standards.
For investors, employees, and the entire business community, Abel provides a sense of comfort that Berkshire Hathaway will endure and that it will remain strong, stable, and relevant in a rapidly changing world.
The torch has been passed. Warren Buffett, the famed investor, has moved on and now, and Greg Abel is CEO of Berkshire Hathaway in the year 2025. No one can ever truly replace Buffett, but all investors can be comforted that Abel comes with experience, discipline, and an impressive track record.
Now, eyes are on Abel to prove that Berkshire’s best days are not merely behind it, but ahead of it still.
FAQs
1. Who is Greg Abel?
Greg Abel is a Canadian businessman and selected successor to Warren Buffett as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, starting officially in 2025.
2 . Why did Warren Buffett choose Greg Abel?
Buffett feels confident in the leadership abilities, discipline, and long-term vision of Abel, which were all apparent during his time at Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
3. When does Greg Abel officially become CEO of Berkshire Hathaway?
Greg Abel stepped of as the CEO in May 2025, at which he took the official position, after Warren Buffett transitioned the lead executive role.
4. What are some challenges that Abel will have to deal with as Buffett’s successor?
As with any new CEO, Abel will have to manage investors’ expectations, steer a turning ship in uncertain global market conditions, deal with the pressures of sustainability across investments, and try and find the next big, large-scale investments, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty in market conditions.
5. How will Berkshire Hathaway change under Greg Abel?
It is expected that Abel will preserve Buffett’s values and will bring a much stronger emphasis on renewable energy infrastructure.
