Quote from 1prometheus:
It is hard to avoid thinking Sokol has given Buffett a big "F you" on his way out. The question is why.
The Buffett Persona is something Buffett created to overcome his natural introversion, and as a creation he obviously made something that is intentionally favorable to himself. However I do not think it is disingenuous.
I think he says exactly what he thinks, but do to his "folksy" image people interpret it the way he wants, rather than with the cynicism the typical executive confronts. It is a very good lesson in perception management that anyone who wants to be successful can learn from.
We're not privy, but you have to imagine that Buffett was put in an untenable position when he found that Sokol owned 100k shares and it would need to go on the reg report. If Sokol had owned it for a few years that's an investment, but he bought the stuff in January. It would've been on Sokol's back for years.