Berkshire Hathaway has appointed Warren Buffett’s son, Howard Graham Buffett, as chairman of the company’s board, marking another major step in the transition away from the 96-year-old investor’s decades-long leadership of the conglomerate.
The company announced the appointment on Friday, September 18, 2026, alongside the designation of Warren Buffett as chairman emeritus, effective immediately. Buffett will remain a member of Berkshire Hathaway’s board and continue to provide his judgment and perspective to the company.
Howard Buffett has been a director of Berkshire Hathaway since 1993. He also serves as chairman and chief executive of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which focuses on humanitarian and conservation-related causes.
The appointment gives Howard Buffett a formal role in preserving the corporate culture established by his father, while day-to-day executive leadership remains with Greg Abel.
Abel became Berkshire Hathaway’s chief executive officer on January 1, 2026, succeeding Warren Buffett after six decades at the helm. Berkshire’s 2025 annual report identified Abel as CEO and Howard Buffett as a member of the board.
“The culture Warren built and the values he championed will remain at the heart of Berkshire, and Howard will be their guardian,” Abel said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Warren Buffett, who has led Berkshire since 1965, said in a letter to shareholders that “Father Time always wins,” while noting that it had been generous to him. He will remain involved with the company despite stepping away from the chairmanship.
Separation of Berkshire Hathaway Leadership
The change separates Berkshire’s two top leadership functions. Abel is responsible for running the company as CEO, while Howard Buffett now chairs the board and assumes a role centred on corporate governance and the preservation of Berkshire’s long-standing culture.
Berkshire Hathaway grew from a struggling textile business into a conglomerate valued at more than $1 trillion under Warren Buffett’s leadership, with major businesses and investments spanning insurance, energy, railroads, manufacturing and financial assets.
Howard Buffett’s elevation also gives a member of the Buffett family a formal stewardship role at the company his father transformed, although the family does not control Berkshire’s executive management.
