What does the 2026 AGM look like?

[TBW]

Buffett will still have been the ceo for all of 2025, so maybe next one is his last one? Curious what people think

[Gamecock-YT]

I just hope there's a way Ackman tries to fit himself into the story

[mn_gophers1]

Warren let Greg handle the shareholder meeting after the Q&A ended. I expect Greg and Ajit will take all the questions next year.  

[John Hjorth]

CNBC - Markets [May 3^rd 2025, updated May 4^th 2025] : End of an era: Warren Buffett will ask Berkshire board to replace him as CEO with Greg Abel

 

Quote

... Buffett’s new role?

 

Buffett and Abel told CNBC’s Becky Quick after the shareholder meeting that the pair would discuss at the Sunday board meeting what Buffett’s role will be formally next year. Buffett is currently also chairman of the conglomerate.

 

“I think they’ll be unanimously in favor of it,” Buffett said of the board’s pending CEO decision Sunday.

 

So it’s not clear whether Abel will also assume the chairman role. Buffett told The Wall Street Journal earlier this year that his son Howie Buffett would become nonexecutive chairman after his death to preserve the company culture. It’s not clear whether this move will impact that decision.

 

“It surprises me, but it impresses me,” said Ron Olson a Berkshire board director, after the shareholder meeting Saturday. “I am very anxious to see Warren become the Charlie Munger for Greg Abel.”

 

After the announcement that apparently Abel didn’t even know was coming, the meeting ended with a standing ovation for Buffett.

 

So I suppose he'll be there in his capacity of chairman of the board of directors, if still reasonable healthy, either on the podium or in the first row on the floor with the other board members, with a chair reserved for him there.

[WFF]

I know it won’t last, but glad to see he will remain Chairman

[KPO]

I don’t know the answer to the question, but there’s enough history here to listen to a prior meeting every first Saturday in May for the next 31 years. This is something I may actually do as the first one I listed to, first question in fact, was prescient when you consider what happened four years later with LTCM. 

 

https://buffett.cnbc.com/annual-meetings/

 

[Hektor]

I feel attendance will fall if he is not on the stage next year.

 

Omaha is concerned too. The annual meeting brings $22MM+ in revenue to Omaha, second only to the College World Series!

 

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/as-buffett-steps-down-omaha-is-gratefuland-a-little-worried-6772410e

 

As Buffett Steps Down, Omaha Is Grateful—and a Little Worried

Despite billionaire’s frugal ways, his presence pumps up local economy, drawing tourists and packing annual conventions

[73 Reds]

15 minutes ago, Hektor said:

I feel attendance will fall if he is not on the stage next year.

 

Omaha is concerned too. The annual meeting brings $22MM+ in revenue to Omaha, second only to the College World Series!

 

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/as-buffett-steps-down-omaha-is-gratefuland-a-little-worried-6772410e

 

As Buffett Steps Down, Omaha Is Grateful—and a Little Worried

Despite billionaire’s frugal ways, his presence pumps up local economy, drawing tourists and packing annual conventions

As Chairman, why wouldn't he be on stage next year?

[Hektor]

1 minute ago, 73 Reds said:

As Chairman, why wouldn't he be on stage next year?

To keep the spot light on Greg/Ajith, may be. Health could be another reason.

[73 Reds]

Just now, Hektor said:

To keep the spot light on Greg/Ajith, may be. Health could be another reason.

Barring poor health he will be there.  

[Hektor]

1 hour ago, 73 Reds said:

Barring poor health he will be there.  

Let's hope so. I was surprised by the way the announcement was made. Even the board was not read in. It's unlike Warren to do things on a whim. So he might have thought about this for a while. I wonder, if all is well, why not let the board in on it? Why initiate the transition now? 

[Hektor]

I have felt that Charlie's departure would affect him. Giving up the CEO role would further affect him, I think. Will all of these decrease his engagement with the company? Who knows!

[73 Reds]

29 minutes ago, Hektor said:

Let's hope so. I was surprised by the way the announcement was made. Even the board was not read in. It's unlike Warren to do things on a whim. So he might have thought about this for a while. I wonder, if all is well, why not let the board in on it? Why initiate the transition now? 

Well, he's the Chairman of the Board and the largest shareholder - by far.  No way they do anything material while he is of sound mind without his consent.  Next year's AGM will be a tribute to a life well spent.  They've probably already started planning it.  He'll be front and center.  Could be the best AGM ever.

[Spooky]

41 minutes ago, Hektor said:

Let's hope so. I was surprised by the way the announcement was made. Even the board was not read in. It's unlike Warren to do things on a whim. So he might have thought about this for a while. I wonder, if all is well, why not let the board in on it? Why initiate the transition now? 

 

I liked the way he did it. He announced it to the world and all shareholders at the same time. He also left a transition period for Greg to get things in place. Sounds like he knew he was ready and it was time. Better to make the announcement and leave on his own terms.

Edited May 6, 2025 by Spooky

[John Hjorth]

30 minutes ago, Hektor said:

I have felt that Charlie's departure would affect him. Giving up the CEO role would further affect him, I think. Will all of these decrease his engagement with the company? Who knows!

 

2 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

Well, he's the Chairman of the Board and the largest shareholder - by far.  No way they do anything material while he is of sound mind without his consent.  Next year's AGM will be a tribute to a life well spent.  They've probably already started planning it.  He'll be front and center.  Could be the best AGM ever.

 

He has been thinking deeply about all this since long before he donated shares away for the first time according to 'the plan', which was in June  2006, meaning if impulsive, then in a state of impulsivity lasting 19⁺ years of sudden impulsive decisions and actions.

[Brett]

Assuming he remains in good health, I think he will be on stage at the AGM next year. 

[Pellom]

1 hour ago, Spooky said:

 

I liked the way he did it. He announced it to the world and all shareholders at the same time. He also left a transition period for Greg to get things in place. Sounds like he knew he was ready and it was time. Better to make the announcement and leave on his own terms.

 

All the insiders (meaning the board) have been pretty clear that Greg has been running the company for about a year now. I think Warren decided he wanted Greg to get the public credit for what had already been operating procedure. 

[Eldad]

It would be fairly unlikely for both Warren and Charlie to have no problem with senility all the way up to their day of death. Let him ride off into the sunset if he feels himself slipping and would rather leave the public eye while he is close to his best. 

[Hektor]

9 minutes ago, Eldad said:

It would be fairly unlikely for both Warren and Charlie to have no problem with senility all the way up to their day of death. Let him ride off into the sunset if he feels himself slipping and would rather leave the public eye while he is close to his best. 

+1

[adesigar]

I hope he is on stage taking on Charlie Mungers role.
 

Greg answers a question and then says “Warren what do you think” and Warren Buffett who is eating Peanut Brittle/Sees Candy and drinking cherry coke says “I have nothing to add”.

[Hektor]

4 minutes ago, adesigar said:

Greg answers a question and then says “Warren what do you think” and Warren Buffett who is eating Peanut Brittle/Sees Candy and drinking cherry coke says “I have nothing to add”.

That would be hilarious!

[Intelligent_Investor]

Buffett won't take stage at next year's Berkshire shareholder meeting

[Mephistopheles]

What will the crowd size be is my question. 20-30k?

 

Maybe Greg should play ping pong with that teen champion, toss newspapers, and play bridge to bring in a crowd.

 

Ajit Jain should munch on the peanut brittle and make wise cracks.

[Xerxes]

How about the letters. 
 

those are chairman letters or CEO letters ?

 

I think at the very least next year letter be from Buffett.
 

After that Greg will be penning those 

[John Hjorth]

Here is some constructive input to how to do it, in a smooth transition, just meant as an example [ John *coughs*  ] :