Meta announced on Monday the addition of three new directors to its board of directors, including Dana White, director of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a known ally of US President-elect Donald Trump.
The appointments come as Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to build ties with the incoming Trump administration, including a $1 million donation to Trump's inauguration fund.
Zuckerberg also dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in November, as the 40-year-old mogul seeks to repair the company's relationship with the incoming US leader following the presidential election.
In another recent gesture toward Trump's team, Meta last week named Republican stalwart Joel Kaplan to run the company's public affairs, replacing Nick Clegg, the former British deputy prime minister.
Trump has been a harsh critic of Meta and Zuckerberg in recent years, accusing the company of supporting liberal policies and being biased against conservatives.
Trump was banned from Facebook following the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, although the company reinstated his account in early 2023.
White has maintained a close friendship with Trump for two decades, dating back to when Trump offered his venues for UFC events.
“I was never interested in joining a board until I received the offer to join Meta's board. I firmly believe that social media and artificial intelligence are the future,” White said.
Along with White, Meta is adding Exor CEO John Elkann and former Microsoft executive Charlie Songhurst to the board, bringing the company's board of directors to 13 members.
Elkann, a descendant of the Agnelli industrial family in Italy, is the chief executive of automobile giant Stellantis and Ferrari.
The appointments came as Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, intensifies its focus on artificial intelligence and the development of wearable technology.
“Dana, John and Charlie will add deep experience and perspective that will help us address the enormous opportunities ahead with AI, wearables and the future of human connection,” Meta CEO Zuckerberg said in a statement. .
