Warren Buffett on succession planning
Berkshire Hathaway’s highlights on the company’s 2011 progress is headed by the item on succession planning. In his letter dated 25 February 2012 for FY2011, Warren Buffett said: “The primary job of a Board of Directors is to see that the right people are running the business and to be sure that the next generation of leaders is identified and ready to take over tomorrow. I have been on 19 corporate boards, and Berkshire’s directors are at the top of the list in the time and diligence they have devoted to succession planning. What’s more, their efforts have paid off.”
Sharing his thoughts on Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, Warren Buffett said: “As 2011 started, Todd Combs joined us as an investment manager, and shortly after yearend Ted Weschler came aboard. Both of these men have outstanding investment skills and a deep commitment to Berkshire. Each will be handling a few billion dollars in 2012, but they have the brains, judgment and character to manage our entire portfolio when Charlie and I are no longer running Berkshire.”
When it comes to the question of CEO succession, Warren Buffett said, without mentioning names, that Berkshire Hathaway has “two superb back-up candidates”. The highlight says: “Your Board is equally enthusiastic about my successor as CEO, an individual to whom they have had a great deal of exposure and whose managerial and human qualities they admire. (We have two superb back-up candidates as well.) When a transfer of responsibility is required, it will be seamless, and Berkshire’s prospects will remain bright.”
Warren Buffett ends the succession planning report on this note: “Do not, however, infer from this discussion that Charlie and I are going anywhere; we continue to be in excellent health, and we love what we do.”
Recommended reading:
(1) The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America, Third Edition
