Buffett to Step Down

Greg Abel Steps UpIn a surprise announcement at Berkshire Hathaway’s AGM, Warren Buffett, 94, revealed he will retire as CEO by end-2025. His successor: Greg Abel, 62, Berkshire’s vice-chair overseeing its vast non-insurance businesses like BNSF Railways and Dairy Queen. Abel, a low-profile Canadian known for strategic thinking and integrity, has been the designated successor since 2021. The board is expected to formalize his appointment. Buffett’s children won’t lead the company—son Howard will become non-executive chairman, while their $140B stake goes to philanthropy. Abel now prepares to helm the $1 trillion giant, with a clear mandate: preserve the Berkshire culture while navigating a new era.

HDFC Bank’s ₹15 Trillion Comeback

After years of stagnation, HDFC Bank’s market cap has crossed ₹15 trillion, joining Reliance and TCS in the elite club. Its shares surged 35% over the past year, prompting brokerages to raise price targets to ₹2,340. This marks a major reversal from earlier struggles—tech outages, RBI sanctions, and a tough merger with HDFC had battered its performance. CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan stabilized the ship through aggressive credit card pushes, tech upgrades, and branch expansion. Now focusing on SME lending and retail growth, HDFC is poised to ride India’s next wave of economic expansion, even as analysts say one solid quarter could fully reset investor sentiment.

AI Is Now Hiring

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a productivity tool—it’s becoming the recruiter. Companies like Grapevine, Hyring, AssessHub, and Babblebots are automating early stages of hiring, conducting video interviews, evaluating candidates via facial recognition and behavioral cues. Razorpay, for instance, is testing AI for both screening and onboarding. The results? Up to 80% cost savings and 50% reduction in HR hours. Yet, not everyone is sold—CIEL HR found video-based AI interviews off-putting for candidates. Experts warn the current boom may be “curiosity revenue,” with no clear moats in place. Still, with hiring volume set to rise, AI’s role in HR seems here to stay.

Shell Considers Bold BP Takeover

Shell is quietly exploring a possible acquisition of BP Plc, aiming to capitalize on BP’s 30% stock slump amid weak oil prices and investor unrest. The potential merger would be one of the oil industry’s largest ever, reuniting two British energy giants. But Shell is moving cautiously. CEO Wael Sawan says the “bar is high,” favoring stock buybacks unless a deal clearly boosts value. Activist investor Elliott has taken a 5% stake in BP, urging the company to consider transformative steps. A takeover would give Shell new access to US markets and deepen its oil portfolio—but only if the price, and timing, are right.

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