Greg Abel

President and Chief Executive Officer Berkshire Hathaway

Last Reviewed: October 1, 2026

Executive Summary

Greg Abel became Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Hathaway on 1 January 2026, succeeding Warren Buffett, who had run the company since 1970 and remains its chairman. Abel is an energy executive by background. He spent 33 years at Berkshire Hathaway Energy and its predecessors, including a decade as its chief executive, before overseeing all of Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses as Vice Chairman from 2018. He now keeps direct oversight of the industrial, building products, BNSF, energy, Pilot and McLane businesses. Berkshire Hathaway ranked No. 7 on the 2026 Fortune 500.

Career Highlights

• President and Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Hathaway since 1 January 2026; director since 2018.
• Vice Chairman, Non-Insurance Operations, 2018 to 2025.
• Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, 2008 to 2018, and its Chairman until July 2025.
• President of MidAmerican Energy Holdings when Berkshire bought a majority interest in 1999.
• Former director of The Kraft Heinz Company.

Professional Journey

Abel earned a commerce degree at the University of Alberta. His first job after university was at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He then worked at CalEnergy, which later acquired MidAmerican Energy Holdings and took its name, and he was MidAmerican’s president when Berkshire Hathaway bought a majority interest in 1999.

He became chief executive of the business, by then Berkshire Hathaway Energy, in 2008, and held the role until 2018, staying on as chairman until July 2025. In 2018 he joined Berkshire’s board and became Vice Chairman for Non-Insurance Operations, overseeing the group’s businesses outside insurance.

In December 2025 Berkshire announced a new leadership structure ahead of his succession. On 1 January 2026 he became President and Chief Executive Officer. He has also served as a director of The Kraft Heinz Company and AEGIS Insurance Services, and is a director and Chairman Emeritus of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans.

Education

University of Alberta

Bachelor’s degree, Commerce