Meta Platforms (META.O) announced on Monday the election of three new directors to its board, including Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), as well as Charlie Songhurst, an investor and former Microsoft executive, and John Elkann, CEO of Exor, a holding company controlled by Italy’s Agnelli family.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, praised the trio for their expertise in fields such as AI, wearables, and human connection, noting their addition would help the company address significant opportunities.
Dana White, who is a close associate of President-elect Donald Trump, has been involved in supporting Trump’s candidacy at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Zuckerberg and White have also developed a friendship, stemming from Zuckerberg’s interest in mixed martial arts and recreational fighting. In 2022, Zuckerberg publicly thanked White on Instagram for inviting him to attend a UFC event, and the UFC later shared a photo of the two in front of the Octagon.
John Elkann is the executive chairman of Stellantis NV and Ferrari, and chairs the nonprofit Agnelli Foundation. He also has notable leadership roles within Europe’s business community. Charlie Songhurst, who has been advising Meta on strategic AI opportunities since May, brings valuable insight to the company’s future direction.
Meta’s new board members come at a time when the company is positioning itself to adapt to new political and business environments. Zuckerberg has expressed regret over past content decisions that alienated conservatives, and has been openly supportive of Trump, including Meta’s donation of $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. Recently, Meta appointed Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican policy executive, as head of global affairs.