Meta has introduced three new individuals to its board of directors, one of whom is Dana White, the current president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), known for his association with the future President Donald Trump.
In a post on Facebook late Monday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also revealed that auto industry leader John Elkann and technology investor Charlie Songhurst will join the board.
Bringing Dana White onto the board may reflect Zuckerberg’s strategy to strengthen relations with Trump, especially since Trump once faced a ban from Facebook. Following Trump’s re-election in November, Zuckerberg was seen dining with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, and it’s noteworthy that Meta contributed $1 million to support Trump’s inauguration, aligning with similar donations from other tech giants like Amazon.
Trump is known to be a significant supporter of the UFC and frequently attends its major events.
White’s connection with Trump dates back to 2001 when a UFC event was hosted at Trump’s former casino, the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Over the years, Trump has been spotted with White at various UFC fights, particularly as part of efforts to engage younger male voters during his 2024 presidential campaign.
In addition, White has made appearances at the Republican conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and was present at Trump’s victory celebration in November, where he delivered brief remarks to the audience.
Following the recent election, both White and Trump were seen at a UFC pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden, where fans cheered when video highlights showcasing Trump’s journey back to the White House were presented.
Zuckerberg commended White for his role in transforming the UFC into “one of the most valuable, fastest-growing, and most popular sports franchises globally,” expressing admiration for his entrepreneurial spirit and brand-building achievements.
Zuckerberg himself has an interest in mixed martial arts and had even teased the idea of a “cage match” with fellow billionaire Elon Musk in 2023, though the event never materialized.
John Elkann, another newly appointed board member, serves as the CEO of Exor, an investment firm based in the Netherlands, and is also the chairman of the auto manufacturers Stellantis and Ferrari.
Zuckerberg highlighted Elkann’s extensive experience in managing large global enterprises, noting that he brings a valuable international viewpoint to Meta’s board.
Charlie Songhurst, who will also join the board, previously held a position at Microsoft and began offering his expertise to Meta in the area of artificial intelligence over the past year.
