The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that as Warren Buffett prepares to pass the torch to Berkshire vice-chairman Greg Abel, the Canadian-born chief executive officer designate for 4-1/2 years, investors face the reality that Mr. Buffett's aura, in part reflected in Berkshire's stock price, will fade. The change is likely to usher in more hands-on leadership from the top over Berkshire's dozens of businesses. Some investors may demand that Berkshire follow a more traditional corporate path, such as by paying dividends. Mr. Abel, 63, will become CEO on Jan. 1, and have one of the toughest acts to follow in corporate history. Mr. Buffett, 95, who has led Berkshire since 1965, will remain chairman. Lawrence Cunningham, a George Washington University law professor and author of several books on Mr. Buffett and Berkshire, said Mr. Abel must convince skeptics that Berkshire will thrive without Mr. Buffett making final decisions on which companies and stocks to buy, or providing guidance and wisdom in annual shareholder letters and meetings. "His biggest challenge is to say, 'I'm not Warren Buffett -- and you shouldn't care.'" Mr. Abel joined Berkshire in 2000, and led Berkshire Hathaway Energy for a decade.