Who: Todd Combs

Age: 39

Executive Post: Hedge Fund Manager at Castle Point Capital

Why he's young and fierce: The once obscure 39-year-old was picked by Warren Buffet to manage a "significant portion" of Berkshire Hathaway's $125 billion investment business, according to various media reports.

Back in 2005, Combs founded the long/short equity hedge fund Castle Point Capital, which survived the financial crisis despite investing almost solely in financial firms, according to the Independent. "He impressed Buffett by steering clear of toxic investments such as Lehman Brothers and AIG and buying back into the markets at their lows," the publication noted.

Buffet told Fortune that he is delighted to have someone of Combs' caliber join the Berkshire team. According to Fortune, Buffet's appointment may make Combs a leading candidate to one day succeed the 80-year-old investor.