The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, Meta Platforms has appointed three new directors to its board. One of them is a close friend of US President-elect Donald Trump and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Dana White.
White had endorsed Trump’s presidential bid at the Republican National Convention in July, while Meta had donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.
Zuckerberg himself has been in touch with White in recent years as a martial arts fan. In an Instagram post, Zuckerberg thanked White for inviting him to attend the UFC fight. UFC also posted a photo of the two hugging in front of the fight arena, the Octagon.
In addition to White, Meta also brought in investor and former Microsoft executive Charlie Songhurst and Exor CEO John Elkann, an investment firm run by Italy’s Agnelli family.
“Dana, John, and Charlie will bring expertise and perspectives that will help us capitalize on the enormous opportunities that lie ahead, including with AI, the tools that can be developed with the future of human connection,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, quoted by Reuters, Tuesday (7/1/2025).
Charlie Songhurst will join a four-person AI advisory team that Zuckerberg formed in May to develop the company’s future roadmap.
Last week, the company also named Joel Kaplan, a Republican, as its chief global affairs officer.
