Nov 10 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett on Monday gave a

full-throated endorsement to Greg Abel, who will replace him as

Berkshire Hathaway's ( BRK/A ) chief executive in January, and

said he will continue holding a significant number of Berkshire

shares to reassure shareholders about the changeover.

In a letter to Berkshire shareholders, possibly his last

public communication with them until he steps down, Buffett, 95,

said Abel has "more than met" his high expectations when he

first thought the 63-year-old was CEO material.

"I can't think of a CEO, a management consultant, an

academic, a member of government - you name it - that I would

select over Greg to handle your savings and mine," wrote

Buffett, who will remain Berkshire's chairman.

Buffett also said he will speed up his charitable donations

to family foundations led by his daughter Susie, 72, and sons

Howard, 70, and Peter, 67, but that it "in no way reflects any

change in my views about Berkshire's prospects."

Buffett also donated more than $1.3 billion of Berkshire

stock, the equivalent of 1,800 Class A shares, to four family

foundations led by his children.

They will also oversee a charitable trust that will contain

nearly all of Buffett's remaining wealth after he dies.

Potential successor trustees have been named if they cannot

serve.