Meta Adds UFC CEO Dana White to Board, Furthering Ties with Trump Circle
Sign up for ARPU: Stay ahead of the curve on tech business trends.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has appointed three new directors to its board, including Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White, Reuters reports. The move further strengthens Meta's ties to President-elect Donald Trump.
The tech giant also elected Charlie Songhurst, an investor and former Microsoft executive, and John Elkann, CEO of Exor, a holding company controlled by Italy's Agnelli family, to its board.
"Dana, John and Charlie will add a depth of expertise and perspective that will help us tackle the massive opportunities ahead with AI, wearables and the future of human connection," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement.
White, a close friend of Trump, has spoken in support of the president-elect at Republican National Conventions. Zuckerberg, an avid mixed martial arts fan, has also developed a personal relationship with White, expressing gratitude to him on Instagram for inviting him to a UFC fight.
Elkann, who is also the executive chairman of Stellantis NV and Ferrari, and chair of the Agnelli Foundation, brings expertise in various sectors. Songhurst, who has been serving on Meta's AI advisory group, adds AI expertise to the board.
Meta's recent moves suggest a strategic shift towards aligning with the Trump administration. The company elevated Republican policy executive Joel Kaplan to the position of global affairs head last week, and donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund.
Zuckerberg has expressed regret over previous content moderation decisions that were unpopular with conservatives and praised Trump's response to an assassination attempt.
The new board members are expected to contribute their expertise and industry connections as Meta navigates the evolving technological landscape under the new administration.