We’ve all watched iconic companies navigate leadership transitions and wondered what stays the same and what changes.
Greg Abel’s $25 million base salary as Berkshire Hathaway’s new CEO lands him among top S&P 500 pay levels, marking a visible shift from Warren Buffett’s famously modest compensation philosophy.
What stood out in the analysis, and why it’s more than just a number, is how pay structures can signal culture, values and behavioural norms at the top of an organisation.
As I’ve noted, when founders step back, companies often start to do more things the way other people do them and how we design incentives matters deeply for long-term organisational identity.
In leadership transitions, particularly at iconic firms, thoughtful reflection on what we preserve and why can be as important as the decisions we make today.