本文是崔士懿《跳著踢躂舞“下班”》這一雄文的終篇。在前序文章中,作者深入剖析了其獨特的董事會文化、嚴謹的接班人計畫,追溯巴菲特從賣汽水的小男孩到建構商業帝國的成長路徑,以宏大的歷史視角與細膩的筆觸精彩重現了巴菲特與波克夏跨越半個多世紀的傳奇歷程。對任何偉大企業而言,傳承都是終極的大考。2025年5月4日,隨著格雷格·阿貝爾(Greg Abel)繼任CEO的官宣,困擾市場數十年的“後巴菲特時代”懸念正式揭曉。作為系列終篇,我們將視線從傳奇人物轉向完熟的體系。通過復盤巴菲特在管理層交接上的長線佈局——從投資端的托德與泰德,到經營端的格雷格與阿吉特——本文將揭示波克夏如何憑藉“無縫信任之網”為未來做好100%的準備。當華倫準備好“跳著踢躂舞下班”時,他留下的不僅是財富,更是“稟性優於才智”的價值投資真諦。01 管理層交接安排2025年5月5日,波克夏公司官網正式發佈通知:“5月4日,波克夏公司董事會一致同意,格雷格將於2026年1月1日接任公司總裁及CEO。”英文原文:On May 4, 2025, Berkshire’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Greg Abel to become Berkshire’s President and CEO effective on January 1, 2026.從伊梅爾特接任韋爾奇,到庫克接任賈伯斯,從納德拉接任鮑爾默,到皮查伊接任拉里佩奇與謝爾蓋布林,對於任何一家大公司而言,管理層的交接都是一個無法迴避的問題。而波克夏的接班安排,更是一個被廣泛關注的焦點,也是歷年股東會被頻繁提問最多的關鍵問題之一。在格雷格與阿吉特、托德與泰德、霍華德與蘇珊共同接班查理與華倫的時刻,我們不妨看一下華倫對管理層交接的具體安排,並展望一下波克夏的未來之路。很顯然,華倫之於波克夏,就像巔峰時期的邁克爾。喬丹之於芝加哥公牛隊。所以,難免有股東會反覆提出這樣的問題:“華倫,天有不測風雲、人有旦夕禍福,假如將來某一天有輛卡車撞到你,那我們這些小股東們該怎麼辦?”早在20年前的2005年股東信裡,華倫就首次明確了波克夏的管理層交接安排,並在2006、2007年股東信裡做了持續溝通:2005年股東信:假如我今晚突然去世,那麼波克夏如何應對?答案很簡單:我們的大部分生意具備強大的競爭地位、強勁的發展勢頭、優秀的經理人,波克夏獨特的企業文化深植於各家子公司。所以,即便我突然離世,這些生意也不會受損。而且,我們也做出了相應安排:在波克夏,我們有3位足以勝任CEO的相對年輕的經理人,這3位經理人都在某些方面強於我。但是,美中不足的是,這3位潛在接班人並不具備我在生意及投資這兩個領域中的交叉經驗。通過安排另外一位專人負責證券投資,我們將解決這個問題。英文原文:You also want to know what happens if I should die tonight.That second question is easy to answer. Most of our many businesses have strong market positions, significant momentum, and terrific managers. The special Berkshire culture is deeply ingrained throughout our subsidiaries, and these operations won’t miss a beat when I die.Moreover, we have three managers at Berkshire who are reasonably young and fully capable of being CEO. Any of the three would be much better at certain management aspects of my job than I. On the minus side, none has my crossover experience that allows me to be comfortable making decisions in either the business arena or in investments. That problem will be solved by having another person in the organization handle marketable securities.2006年股東信:在去年的股東信裡,我向各位股東提到,在波克夏,我們有3位優秀的CEO候選人,而且董事會清楚,萬一我在今晚去世,具體將由誰來擔任CEO。董事會認為,將來我的接班人應該長期任職,而這3位候選人都比我年輕得多。然而,坦率地講,至於將來誰接替我負責波克夏的證券投資,我們在這方面尚未完全準備好。這裡是有歷史原因的:曾經查理可以接替我來負責投資業務,近來路易·辛普森也可以勝任這個角色。路易是一位頂級投資人,在管理蓋可保險的投資組合過程中,路易實現了長期的優秀業績。但是,路易僅比我小6歲,假如我去世了,路易的年齡決定了他也只能在短時間內接替我。長期考慮,我們需要一個更好的解決方案。在去年10月的董事會上,我們就這個問題進行了充分討論,並最終提出一個計畫,未來我將在查理與路易的幫助下,實施好該計畫。根據安排,我將招聘一位年輕投資人來管理一大筆資金,並在將來接替我擔任波克夏的首席投資官,在這個過程中,我們可能會選擇多位候選人。選擇合適的投資人,並不是一件容易的事。長期看來,市場總會發生異常甚至詭異的事情。一筆大錯就會抹殺長期積累的所有成功。因此,我們需要一位天賦異稟的投資人,他要能辨認及規避重大風險,甚至能識別出那種有生以來從未見過的重大風險。而某些特殊的危險,無法通過當今金融機構採用的那套傳統風控模型去辨別。投資人的秉性極其重要。同時,獨立思考、情緒穩定、洞察人性與組織行為,是投資取得長期成功之關鍵。我見過很多聰明人,可是他們並不具備這些品質。英文原文:I have told you that Berkshire has three outstanding candidates to replace me as CEO and that the Board knows exactly who should take over if I should die tonight. Each of the three is much younger than I. The directors believe it’s important that my successor have the prospect of a long tenure.Frankly, we are not as well-prepared on the investment side of our business. There’s a history here: At one time, Charlie was my potential replacement for investing, and more recently Lou Simpson has filled that slot. Lou is a top-notch investor with an outstanding long-term record of managing GEICO’s equity portfolio. But he is only six years younger than I. If I were to die soon, he would fill in magnificently for a short period. For the long-term, though, we need a different answer.At our October board meeting, we discussed that subject fully. And we emerged with a plan, which I will carry out with the help of Charlie and Lou.Under this plan, I intend to hire a younger man or woman with the potential to manage a very large portfolio, who we hope will succeed me as Berkshire’s chief investment officer when the need for someone to do that arises. As part of the selection process, we may in fact take on several candidates.Picking the right person(s) will not be an easy task.Over time, markets will do extraordinary, even bizarre, things. A single, big mistake could wipe out a long string of successes. We therefore need someone genetically programmed to recognize and avoid serious risks, including those never before encountered. Certain perils that lurk in investment strategies cannot be spotted by use of the models commonly employed today by financial institutions.Temperament is also important. Independent thinking, emotional stability, and a keen understanding of both human and institutional behavior is vital to long-term investment success. I’ve seen a lot of very smart people who have lacked these virtues.2007年股東信:我之前告訴各位,關於將來誰接替我擔任CEO,我們已經完全準備好了,我們有3位來自波克夏內部的優秀候選人。董事會清楚,如果我無法勝任,他們將選擇誰。而且,無論誰接任CEO,我們還有2位後備人選。在去年的股東信裡我告訴各位,我們將盡快完成波克夏投資業務的接班安排,目前我們終於明確了將來接替我負責投資業務的4位候選人。這4位候選人目前都管理著大筆資金,而且均對加入波克夏表示出強烈興趣。董事會清楚這4位候選人的強項,如果需要,將會招聘其中的一位或更多。這4位候選人的年齡跨度從青年至中年,且均已實現財務自由,他們都願意為了超越薪資報酬的使命感而加入波克夏。英文原文:As I have told you before, we have for some time been well-prepared for CEO succession because we have three outstanding internal candidates. The board knows exactly whom it would pick if I were to become unavailable, either because of death or diminishing abilities. And that would still leave the board with two backups.Last year I told you that we would also promptly complete a succession plan for the investment job at Berkshire, and we have indeed now identified four candidates who could succeed me in managing investments. All manage substantial sums currently, and all have indicated a strong interest in coming to Berkshire if called. The board knows the strengths of the four and would expect to hire one or more if the need arises. The candidates are young to middle-aged, well-to-do to rich, and all wish to work for Berkshire for reasons that go beyond compensation.整體看來,波克夏早在2005年至2007年就初步安排好了CEO的3位候選人、首席投資官的4位候選人,基本完成了經營控股生意及投資業務的接班安排。這幾位候選人一直處於嚴格保密的狀態,未來是不可預測的,因此這也是一個動態調整的過程。隨著時間推移,波克夏持續評估相關候選人,最終,分別於2010年10月、2011年9月通過官網宣佈,托德·科姆斯、泰德·韋施勒將以投資經理的身份加入波克夏,負責一部分證券投資業務。左圖:托德·科姆斯,生於1971年;右圖:泰德·韋施勒,生於1962年隨後,波克夏進一步明確了對控股生意的交接安排:2017年股東信:我把最重要的保留在最後。2018年初阿吉特及格雷格同時進入波克夏董事會,且均擔任副董事長。阿吉特負責所有的保險業務,格雷格負責其他所有的非保險業務,查理與我將專注於投資及資本配置。由阿吉特與格雷格負責相關業務,是波克夏的幸運。二人都已為波克夏工作數十年,他們的身體裡流淌著波克夏的血液。一言以蔽之,二人的性格匹配其才華。英文原文:I’ve saved the best for last. Early in 2018, Berkshire’s board elected Ajit Jain and Greg Abel as directors of Berkshire and also designated each as Vice Chairman. Ajit is now responsible for insurance operations, and Greg oversees the rest of our businesses. Charlie and I will focus on investments and capital allocation.You and I are lucky to have Ajit and Greg working for us. Each has been with Berkshire for decades, and Berkshire’s blood flows through their veins. The character of each man matches his talents. And that says it all.2018年股東信:我要跟各位股東分享一條真正的好消息,這條好消息是財務報表無法體現的。這涉及我們在2018年初做出的管理層調整,我們決定由阿吉特負責所有的保險業務,格雷格負責其他所有的非保險業務。我們早就該明確這項調整了。相比於過去由我一人獨自監管各項業務,目前波克夏的各項管理更加高效。阿吉特與格雷格均具備罕見的才華,更加難能可貴的是,他們的身體裡均流淌著波克夏的血液。英文原文:Before moving on, I want to give you some good news–really good news – that is not reflected in our financial statements. It concerns the management changes we made in early 2018, when Ajit Jain was put in charge of all insurance activities and Greg Abel was given authority over all other operations. These moves were overdue. Berkshire is now far better managed than when I alone was supervising operations. Ajit and Greg have rare talents, and Berkshire blood flows through their veins.自此,波克夏的管理層接班安排已比較清晰:將來,格雷格將接任CEO並負責所有的非保險業務,阿吉特負責所有的保險業務,投資經理托德·科姆斯、泰德·韋施勒將負責波克夏價值數千億美元的證券投資組合。同時,華倫的大兒子霍華德將擔任非執行董事長,不參與公司具體經營,與蘇珊一起,以大股東身份負責守護波克夏的公司文化。02 目前的波克夏我們看一下波克夏目前大概的樣子:2019年股東信:查理跟我早就進入我們人生的“緊急時刻”了。這對我倆而言不是什麼好事,但是,作為波克夏股東,各位完全不用擔心:波克夏早就為我倆的離開做好準備了。我倆的樂觀基於以下5個因素:第一,波克夏的資產配置極其多元,遍佈各類全資控股或部分持股企業,且這些企業整體而言能賺到可觀的回報;第二,波克夏將“控股”的若干生意整合於單一的實體框架之內,並賦予這個結構多項重要且持久的經濟優勢;第三,波克夏的財務強大且保守,能夠確保我們抵禦各類極端的外部衝擊;第四,我們擁有德才兼備的管理人團隊,對他們而言,管理好各家子公司的成就感遠遠不止是拿到高薪或獲得一份顯赫的職位;第五,波克夏的董事們——即各位股東的守護神——將持續專注於提升股東價值,並全力培育在大型企業中罕見的公司文化。英文原文:Charlie and I long ago entered the urgent zone. That’s not exactly great news for us. But Berkshire shareholders need not worry: Your company is 100% prepared for our departure.The two of us base our optimism upon five factors. First, Berkshire’s assets are deployed in an extraordinary variety of wholly or partly-owned businesses that, averaged out, earn attractive returns on the capital they use. Second, Berkshire’s positioning of its “controlled” businesses within a single entity endows it with some important and enduring economic advantages. Third, Berkshire’s financial affairs will unfailingly be managed in a manner allowing the company to withstand external shocks of an extreme nature. Fourth, we possess skilled and devoted top managers for whom running Berkshire is far more than simply having a high-paying and/or prestigious job. Finally, Berkshire’s directors–your guardians–are constantly focused on both the welfare of owners and the nurturing of a culture that is rare among giant corporations.在這裡,華倫提出:即便查理與華倫離開波克夏,波克夏的價值也將繼續提升的5種因素,分別是:波克夏現有的資產配置多元且回報水平高,波克夏的業務架構具備重要且持續的競爭優勢,波克夏的財務實力強大且保守,波克夏的經理人團隊德才兼備,以及波克夏獨特的公司文化。回到華倫即將於2026年初離任CEO這個話題:假如華倫離開波克夏一線經營,波克夏能否繼續繁榮?其實,查理早在10年前就給出了他心中的答案:2014年股東信:查理:如果華倫離開波克夏,波克夏是否能繼續產出優秀業績?答案很顯然:波克夏將會繼續繁榮發展。有如下3個主要原因:一是波克夏的多數子公司因具有持續的競爭優勢而具備強勁的發展勢頭,二是波克夏旗下的鐵路及公用事業子公司為固定資產投資提供了絕佳機會,三是波克夏的多家子公司本身也持續進行明智的“補強式”收購。只要波克夏的核心體系保持穩定,那怕出現如下3種負面情況,即華倫明天就離任、華倫的繼任者能力平庸、波克夏不再做大型收購,波克夏現有的發展勢頭及機會將足以確保其在未來長時期內超過普通的美國公司。但是,在這種“華倫馬上就離任”的假設下,其繼任者不可能是平庸之輩。比如,阿吉特與格雷格早就通過實踐證明了自身的商業才華,即便用“世界級”來形容二者仍顯不足,我認為二人都是“世界頂尖”水平,在某些重要方面,二人甚至超越華倫。而且,我還相信兩點:一是無論外界提供多麼豐厚的薪酬,阿吉特與格雷格都不會離開波克夏,二是阿吉特與格雷格都不會大幅調整波克夏現有的體系。我同樣認為,即便華倫離開,波克夏還是會做出重要的大型收購。如今波克夏日益龐大,在股東積極主義盛行的背景下,總會出現一些有吸引力的收購機會,到時候,波克夏帳上趴著的600億美元現金,將建設性地減少。英文原文:The next to last task on my list was: Predict whether abnormally good results would continue at Berkshire if Buffett were soon to depart.The answer is yes. Berkshire has in place in its subsidiaries much business momentum grounded in much durable competitive advantage. Moreover, its railroad and utility subsidiaries now provide much desirable opportunity to invest large sums in new fixed assets. And many subsidiaries are now engaged in making wise “bolt-on” acquisitions.Provided that most of the Berkshire system remains in place, the combined momentum and opportunity now present is so great that Berkshire would almost surely remain a better-than-normal company for a very long time even if (1) Buffett left tomorrow, (2) his successors were persons of only moderate ability, and (3) Berkshire never again purchased a large business.But, under this Buffett-soon-leaves assumption, his successors would not be “of only moderate ability.” For instance, Ajit Jain and Greg Abel are proven performers who would probably be under-described as “world-class.” “World-leading” would be the description I would choose. In some important ways, each is a better business executive than Buffett.And I believe neither Jain nor Abel would (1) leave Berkshire, no matter what someone else offered or (2) desire much change in the Berkshire system.Nor do I think that desirable purchases of new businesses would end with Buffett’s departure. With Berkshire now so large and the age of activism upon us, I think some desirable acquisition opportunities will come and that Berkshire’s $60 billion in cash will constructively decrease.總的來說,查理認為:在波克夏獨特公司文化的守護下,只要波克夏的核心體系保持穩定,即便繼任者是平庸之輩,波克夏也會繼續繁榮發展,何況,繼任者格雷格與阿吉特、托德與泰德早就證明了其商業才能。03 “跳著踢躂舞下班”今年恰逢華倫及其合夥人控股波克夏 60周年,在參加今年波克夏股東會期間,我在黑石大廈偶然遇見了在助手黛比陪伴下“跳著踢躂舞來上班”的華倫。華倫拄著枴杖步入黑石大廈,旁邊穿灰色上衣者為其助手黛比,攝於2025年5月“始於好奇,終於稟性”最初,我們或許是因為對財富的好奇而開始接觸查理與華倫,但是,最終打動我們的,是二人的幽默、理性、簡單、質樸等品格、稟性。最後,我們不妨用如下的“一問一答”來結尾。問:誰是標準石油公司的第3任CEO?答:我不知道,亦無需知曉。參考答案:標準石油公司及其分拆出的核心子公司埃克森美孚,自19世紀末至今連續120餘年一直處於全球最有價值公司的行列,直至今天埃克森美孚仍價值數千億美元。公司創始人約翰。洛克菲勒打造了一種獨特的公司文化:無論CEO是誰,公司都能堅決抵禦華爾街等外界的短期壓力,在油價高位時克制投資、在低油價時佈局未來,專注於創造長期價值,從而使公司具備穿越無數周期與低谷的強大生命力。這種保守文化是如何捍衛公司的長期價值呢?僅舉一例:為獎勵時任CEO蒂勒森超過40年的服務,埃克森美孚為其制定了一項總價值約1.8億美元的巨額薪酬安排,同時,為了將高管個人利益與公司長期價值繫結,該薪酬包從退休之後的第10年才開始逐年兌現。通過上述對波克夏董事會及公司治理的介紹,以及對華倫及波克夏來時路的簡要分析,我們相信:查理與華倫已經為波克夏注入了一種獨特的、無法複製的公司文化,在這種公司文化的守護下,波克夏或將如標準石油公司那樣,在跨越百年的歷史中持續創造價值。每天高興地“跳著踢躂舞去上班”的華倫,與查理一道,一點一滴地打造了獨屬於波克夏的公司文化。在這種公司文化的守護下,即便來到需要拄枴杖的年齡,華倫同樣也可以放心地“跳著踢躂舞下班”。 (芒格書院)