Meta Platforms stated Monday it had elected three new administrators to its board, together with Dana White, CEO of Final Combating Championship (UFC) and shut buddy of President-elect Donald Trump.
The Fb-parent additionally elected Charlie Songhurst, an investor and former Microsoft govt, in addition to John Elkann, CEO of Exor, a holding firm managed by Italy’s Agnelli household with pursuits in European companies comparable to Ferrari and Christian Louboutin.
“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 stated.
Trump has had a protracted relationship with White, who had spoken in help of his candidacy on the Republican Nationwide Conference in July, and beforehand on the 2016 and 2020 conventions.
Zuckerberg, likewise, has developed a relationship with White lately as a combined martial arts fanatic and leisure fighter.
In one in all their early public exchanges, Zuckerberg thanked White in an Instagram publish in 2022 for inviting him to attend a UFC combat, whereas the UFC posted a photograph on-line of the 2 embracing in entrance of the “Octagon” cage the place fights happen.
Elkann can also be the chief chairman of Stellantis NV and Ferrari, and chair of the nonprofit Agnelli Basis, which focuses on schooling.
Songhurst has been serving on a four-member AI advisory group Meta convened in Could to supply steering on “strategic opportunities” in relation to the corporate’s roadmap.
Zuckerberg has been positioning Meta for a possible second Trump presidency, expressing remorse over earlier content material selections that have been unpopular with conservatives and praising Trump’s response to an assassination try.
Final week, the corporate elevated distinguished Republican coverage govt Joel Kaplan to the place of worldwide affairs head.
Meta additionally donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, in a departure from its previous apply.
