OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after more than 50 years in the role, marking another major transition for the Omaha-based company and one of the most influential figures in American business. The company said Friday that Buffett, 96, will become chairman emeritus effective immediately. He will remain a director of Berkshire Hathaway, while his son, Howard Buffett, takes over as chairman. Howard Buffett has served on Berkshire Hathaway’s board since 1993. His new role will put him in charge of guarding the corporate culture and long-term values built by his father, though Greg Abel remains responsible for running the company as CEO. Buffett stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway’s chief executive late last year, with Abel succeeding him. The change in the chairmanship further separates Buffett from the company’s day-to-day leadership while preserving his formal connection to the business. “Warren’s impact on Berkshire and its owners is without parallel in the history of American business,” Abel said in a statement. “The culture Warren built and the values he championed will remain at the heart of Berkshire, and Howard will be their guardian.” Buffett became Berkshire Hathaway’s chairman in 1970. Under his leadership, the company grew from a struggling textile manufacturer into a sprawling holding company with businesses spanning insurance, railroads, energy, manufacturing and consumer goods. The leadership change is likely to draw close attention from Berkshire shareholders, many of whom gather annually in Omaha for the company’s shareholder meeting. Buffett’s presence at those meetings and his plainspoken commentary on investing have made the event a significant civic and economic fixture for the city. His move to chairman emeritus represents a further step in Berkshire’s long-planned succession process, as the company moves into its next era without Buffett as its central executive figure.