Meta Platforms said Monday it has elected three new directors to its board, including Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a close friend of President-elect Donald Trump.
Facebook's parent company also elected Charlie Songhurst, an investor and former Microsoft executive, as well as John Elkann, CEO of Exor, a holding company controlled by the Italian Agnelli family with interests in European companies such as Ferrari and Christian Louboutin.
“Dana, John, and Charlie will add a depth of experience and perspective that will help us address the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead in AI, wearables, and the future of human connection,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Trump has a long relationship with White, who spoke in support of his candidacy at the Republican National Convention in July, and previously at the 2016 and 2020 conventions.
Likewise, Zuckerberg has developed a relationship with White in recent years as an MMA enthusiast and recreational fighter.
In one of their early public exchanges, Zuckerberg thanked White in a post on Instagram in 2022 for inviting him to attend a UFC fight, while the UFC published a photo online of the two embracing in front of the “Octagon” cage in which the fights take place.
Elkann is also CEO of Stellantis NV and Ferrari, and president of the non-profit Agnelli Foundation, which focuses on education.
Songhurst was a member of Meta's four-member AI advisory group that convened in May to provide guidance on “strategic opportunities” regarding the company's roadmap.
Zuckerberg profiled a potential second Trump presidency, expressing regret for past content decisions that were unpopular with conservatives and praising Trump's response to an assassination attempt.
Last week, the company promoted prominent Republican policymaker Joel Kaplan to president of global affairs.
Meta also donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, in a departure from her previous practices.
