(Bloomberg) – Ajit Jain, long considered a top candidate to replace billionaire Warren Buffett as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is expanding his oversight of the company's insurance operations.

Gen Re, one of the major reinsurance businesses at Berkshire, said Tuesday that CEO Tad Montross, 60, will step down by the end of this year. His replacement hasn't been named, but will report to Jain, said Sabine Denne, a spokeswoman for the reinsurer.

Buffett, 85, has said he considers Jain family. The 64-year-old built a separate underwriting unit, Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group, into one of the company's largest operations. He has expanded that business, even amid increased industrywide competition, while Gen Re has retrenched in some markets.

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