Sokol, who used to run BerkshiresubsidiariesMidAmericanandNetJets, waswidelyseen asBuffett's heir apparent, an image Buffett biographerssay the "Oracle ofOmaha" cultivated.
It put John Compton, the current head of Americas Foods, in charge of all the company's global groups, making him anheirapparent in the newly created role of president.
Mr Assad senior plucked his son from an ophthalmology course in London and brought him to Syria as heir-apparent on the death of his brother, Basil, in 1994.