New York (AFP)
The next head of the huge American financial holding Berkshire Hathaway will be named Greg Abel, billionaire Warren Buffett told CNBC on Monday, putting an end to a suspense that has lasted for several years about his successor.
"The leaders agree that if something were to happen to me tonight, Greg would be in charge tomorrow morning," said Warren Buffett, the sixth largest fortune in the world with $ 103.7 billion according to the TV channel. Forbes ranking.
Some clues to this effect had emerged from the general meeting of shareholders of the company on Saturday, without being able to conclude that it would be a formal succession.
The American businessman adds that Ajit Jain, currently the head of the group's insurance division, would take the reins in the event of Mr. Abel's incapacity.
"They are two wonderful people," Mr. Buffett told CNBC.
Warren Buffett, 90, thus puts an end to a suspense that had lasted for years on his next replacement at the head of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire's conglomerate that oversees some sixty companies, including the American insurer Geico and the manufacturer of Duracell batteries.
The two men were regularly cited as potential successors and are far from unknown to the group.
The Canadian Greg Abel joined the company in 1992 in its energy division and has overseen all non-insurance activities for more than three years.
The American of Indian origin, Ajit Jain, for his part joined Berkshire in 1986 within the insurance division he currently heads.
Berkshire Hathaway stock was up 1.09% in trades leading up to the opening of the New York Stock Exchange.
© 2021 AFP