Warren Buffett has served as Berkshire Hathaway’s chairman and chief executive since 1965.
Buffett acquired control of Berkshire Hathaway, originally a struggling textile manufacturer, and transformed it into a diversified holding company. Its businesses and investments have included insurance, railroads, utilities, consumer brands, and large publicly traded equity positions.
Charlie Munger was Buffett’s longtime business partner and served as Berkshire’s vice chairman, but he was not the company’s chief executive. Buffett is known for emphasizing long-term ownership, conservative financing, and the use of insurance float to support investment activity. Greg Abel was designated as Berkshire’s successor chief executive, while Buffett continued as chairman and CEO through the latest established phase of the company’s history.