Meta Appoints UFC CEO Dana White and 2 Others to Its Board of Directors

UFC CEO Dana White speaks during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, at Madison Square Garden, in New York, on Oct. 27, 2024. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Facebook parent company Meta has added three new members to its board of directors—including UFC CEO Dana White, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump—in a move that signals the company’s commitment to diversifying its leadership with figures from a broad range of industries with distinct expertise.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the new appointments on Jan. 6, emphasizing their varied backgrounds as critical in shaping the company’s vision for the future. The other two new board members are John Elkann, executive chairman of Ferrari and Stellantis; and Charlie Songhurst, who served as head of global corporate strategy at Microsoft.

“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,” Zuckerberg said in a statement.

White, a transformative figure in mixed martial arts (MMA), has grown the UFC into a global sports and entertainment powerhouse. A vocal supporter of Trump, White said he plans to leverage his brand-building expertise to help Meta navigate the competitive digital landscape.

“I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future,” White said in a statement. “I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside. There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level.”

Zuckerberg, himself an MMA fan with experience training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, notably challenged X CEO Elon Musk to a cage match last year. White offered to make the fight official under the auspices of the UFC and use its proceeds for charity. Ultimately, the match fell through.

Elkann, who aside from his role at Ferrari and Stellantis helms one of Europe’s largest investment companies, Exor, is expected to bring a long-term strategic perspective to Meta’s board.

“I look forward to bringing my global experience and long-term perspective to the board as Meta continues to shape and push the next frontiers of innovation and technology,” Elkann said in a statement.

Songhurst, who is now a tech investor with stakes in over 500 startups globally, focused on mergers and acquisitions during his time at Microsoft, including the company’s acquisition of Skype. He has also counseled Meta’s advisory group.

“As part of Meta’s advisory group, I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities to scale new products and grow AI and enterprise capabilities, and I’m honored to be asked to join the board to further this work,” Songhurst said in a statement.

The three new members expand Meta’s board of directors to 13, led by Zuckerberg, who has recently sought to better his relationship with Trump.

The Meta chief dined with the incoming president at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida after Trump won the election. He has also donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee. Zuckerberg also recently named Joel Kaplan, who has deep Republican ties, as Meta’s policy chief.