Outgoing Berkshire exec Sokol leaves BYD board

Chicago Tribune (Omaha, US) - Outgoing Berkshire Hathaway executive David Sokol has resigned from the board of BYD Co., the Chinese car and battery maker.

BYD announced the resignation Thursday. But the resignation wasn't a surprise because Sokol had represented his employer Berkshire Hathaway Inc. on the BYD board since 2008, and Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett announced last week that Sokol had resigned.

Berkshire's Des Moines, Iowa, based MidAmerican Energy utility subsidiary holds a 9.9 percent stake in BYD.

Sokol, who has been serving as chairman of Berkshire's MidAmerican Energy, NetJets and Johns Manville units, will leave Berkshire on April 21, and MidAmerican CEO Greg Abel will add the Chairman's role to his duties. 

Berkshire and MidAmerican officials did not immediately respond to questions Friday about who will take Sokol's place on BYD's board.