Meta Appoints UFC CEO Dana White to Board, Strengthening Ties with Trump Administration

Dana White, U.F.C. Head, Joins Meta's Board

Sign up for the On Tech newsletter. Get our best tech reporting from the week. Get it sent to your inbox. Mark Zuckerberg in a Facebook post Monday said that Meta had added Dana White, the chief executive of Ultimate Fighting Championship, and two other executives to its board. Meta is adding Mr. White, a longtime friend of President-elect Donald J. Trump, to the social media company's leadership amid a series of moves to strengthen its ties to the incoming administration. Last week, the company shook up the top of Meta's policy team, appointing a longtime executive known for his Republican ties to become head of global policy. Meta has also donated $1 million to Mr. Trump's inaugural fund. In recent years, Mr. White and Mr. Zuckerberg, the Meta chief executive, have bonded over their passion for professional fighting, including mixed martial arts, which Mr. Zuckerberg took up in 2022. "Dana is the President and CEO of UFC, and he has built it into one of the most valuable, fastest growing, and most popular sports enterprises in the world," Mr. Zuckerberg said in his post. "I've admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand." In 2023, Mr. White attempted to broker a cage match between the Mr. Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX. Mr. Musk, who has become a close ally of Mr. Trump, eventually backed out of the battle, citing an old injury. He claimed Mr. Zuckerberg was at fault for not making himself available to fight later on. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, created three new board seats for the appointments, bringing the total number of board members to 13. Mr. Zuckerberg said the company also added John Elkann, the chief executive of Exor, a Europe-based holding company that controls Jeep and Ferrari, and Charlie Songhurst, a tech investor who previously worked at Microsoft and has recently advised Meta on artificial intelligence projects. "We have massive opportunities ahead in A.I., wearables, and the future of social media, and our board will help us achieve our vision," Mr. Zuckerberg wrote. Meta in recent years has begun to manufacture wearable technology, like gaming headsets and sunglasses equipped with cameras. It is also competing in a global A.I. race, launching its own generative system with "open source" code so that it can be freely copied, modified and reused by anyone. Meta has faced harsh Republican criticism of its content moderation on its social media platforms, which Mr. Trump and others argue amounts to censorship of conservative voices. Some of the people the president-elect has tapped to regulate the tech and other industries have promised to crack down as a result. In recent weeks Mr. Zuckerberg met with Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago, during which the tech executive congratulated the president-elect on winning the election.

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Meta is adding Mr. White, a longtime friend of President-elect Donald J. Trump, to the social media company's leadership amid a series of moves to strengthen its ties to the incoming administration. Last week, the company shook up the top of its policy team, appointing a longtime executive known for his Republican ties as head of global policy. Meta has also donated $1 million to Mr. Trump's inaugural fund. In recent years, Mr. White and Mr. Zuckerberg, the Meta chief executive, have bonded over their passion for professional fighting, including mixed martial arts, which Mr. Zuckerberg took up in 2022. "Dana is the President and CEO of UFC, and he has built it into one of the most valuable, fastest growing, and most popular sports enterprises in the world," Mr. Zuckerberg said in his post. "I've admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand." In 2023, Mr. White attempted to broker a cage match between Mr. Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, Tesla and SpaceX. Mr. Musk, who has become a close ally of Mr. Trump, eventually backed out of the battle, citing an old injury. He claimed Mr. Zuckerberg was at fault for not making himself available to fight later on. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, created three new board seats for the appointments, bringing the total number to 13. Mr. Zuckerberg said the company had also added John Elkann, the chief executive of Exor, a European-based holding company that controls Jeep and Ferrari, and Charlie Songhurst, a tech investor who previously worked at Microsoft and has recently advised Meta on artificial intelligence projects. "We have massive opportunities ahead in A.I., wearables, and the future of social media, and our board will help us achieve our vision," Mr. Zuckerberg wrote. Meta in recent years has begun to manufacture wearable technology, like gaming headsets and sunglasses equipped with cameras. It is also competing in a global A.I. race, launching its own generative system with "open source" code so that it can be freely copied, modified and reused by anyone. Meta has faced harsh Republican criticism of its content moderation on its social media platforms, which Mr. Trump and others argue amounts to censorship of conservative voices. Some of the people the president-elect has tapped to regulate the tech and other industries have promised to crack down as a result. In recent weeks, Mr. Zuckerberg met with Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago, during which the tech executive congratulated the president-elect on winning the election.

Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship, joins Meta's board

Meta is adding White, a longtime friend of President-elect Donald Trump, to the social media company's leadership amid a series of moves to strengthen its ties to the incoming administration. Last week, the company shook up the top of its policy team, appointing a longtime executive known for his Republican ties as head of global policy. Meta has also donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund.Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post Monday that Meta had added Dana White, the CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship, and two other executives to its board. Meta is adding White, a longtime friend of President-elect Donald Trump, to the social media company's leadership amid a series of moves to strengthen its ties to the incoming administration. Last week, the company shook up the top of its policy team, appointing a longtime executive known for his Republican ties as head of global policy. Meta has also donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund. In recent years, White and Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, have bonded over their passion for professional fighting, including mixed martial arts, which Zuckerberg took up in 2022. "Dana is the President and CEO of UFC, and he has built it into one of the most valuable, fastest growing, and most popular sports enterprises in the world," Zuckerberg said in his post. "I've admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand." In 2023, White attempted to broker a cage match between Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social platform X, Tesla and SpaceX. Musk, who has become a close ally of Trump, eventually backed out of the battle, citing an old injury. He claimed Zuckerberg was at fault for not making himself available to fight later on. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, created three new board seats for the appointments, bringing the total number to 13. Zuckerberg said the company had also added John Elkann, CEO of Exor, a European-based holding company that controls Jeep and Ferrari, and Charlie Songhurst, a tech investor who previously worked at Microsoft and has recently advised Meta on artificial intelligence projects. "We have massive opportunities ahead in AI, wearables and the future of social media, and our board will help us achieve our vision," Zuckerberg wrote. Meta in recent years has begun to manufacture wearable technology, such as gaming headsets and sunglasses equipped with cameras. It is also competing in a global AI race, launching its own generative system with "open source" code so that it can be freely copied, modified and reused by anyone. Meta has faced harsh Republican criticism of its content moderation on its social media platforms, which Trump and others argue amounts to censorship of conservative voices. Some of the people the president-elect has tapped to regulate the tech and other industries have promised to crack down as a result. In recent weeks, Zuckerberg met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the president-elect's resort in Florida, during which the tech executive congratulated Trump on winning the election.

Meta Names UFC boss Dana White, a Trump ally, to board

Social media giant Meta announced Monday the appointment of three new directors to its board, including Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) head Dana White, a close ally to US President-elect Donald Trump. The new board members were announced as Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been making approaches to the incoming Trump administration, including donating one million dollars to Trump's inauguration fund. Zuckerberg also dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in November, as the 40-year-old tycoon looks to repair the company's relationship with the incoming US leader following the presidential election. In another recent gesture towards the Trump team, Meta last week named Republican stalwart Joel Kaplan to head up public affairs at the company, taking over from Nick Clegg, a 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 kicked off Facebook following the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, though the company restored 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've never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board. I am a huge believer that social media and AI 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, scion to the Agnelli industrialist family in Italy, is the executive chairman of auto giant Stellantis and Ferrari. The appointments came as Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, intensifies its focus on artificial intelligence and wearable technology development. "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 Zuckerberg said in a statement.

Dana White, UFC CEO and Trump ally, joins Meta's board of directors

Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced White's addition alongside two new members of the company's board of directors: John Elkan, CEO of Exor, and Charlie Songhurst, a technology investor and former Microsoft (MSFT+0.79%) corporate strategist. "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. White said in a press release that he had "never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board." "I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future," he added. "There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level." White's addition comes after he played a crucial role in Trump's presidential campaign. Many reports credited him as one of the key architects behind Trump's appeal to younger male voters. White was reportedly instrumental in getting the President-elect to appear on so-called "manosphere" podcasts hosted by Joe Rogan, Theo Von, and others. He also appeared in the president-elect's first TikTok. The UFC boss is also a friend of Zuckerberg, who has taken up martial arts as a hobby. The two appeared in a picture together last February and ESPN reported that White asked Zuckerberg for help with UFC's ranking system last year. Meta is one of the many big tech companies trying to make good with the Trump administration before it takes off in a few weeks. Zuckerberg has often faced threats from Trump, but has since tried to make nice -- refusing to endorse a candidate in the most recent election. He also had Meta donate $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. OpenAI's Sam Altman and Amazon's (AMZN+1.28%) Jeff Bezos made similar donations. In December, Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, said in a briefing with journalists that Zuckerberg wants to play "an active role in the debates that any administration needs to have about maintaining America's leadership in the technological sphere."

Meta taps UFC chief and Trump ally Dana White for its board

Meta has appointed mixed martial arts titan and prominent Donald Trump supporter Dana White to its board of directors, as the social media platform seeks to make inroads with the incoming US presidential administration. White, the chief executive of Ultimate Fighting Championship, has grown the mixed martial arts promotion group into one of the most popular sports businesses in the world. He has been a vocal Trump supporter during last year's campaign, speaking on his election night, while the president-elect has made some high-profile appearances at UFC matches. White is also a friend to Meta's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, who has in recent years documented his keen interest in martial arts. The $1.6tn social media platform also named two other new board members on Monday: Charlie Songhurst, a technology investor and former Microsoft executive, and John Elkann, the chief executive of Exor, a European investment group. Exor is controlled by the Agnelli company and holds stakes in Ferrari, Stellantis, Juventus Football Club and The Economist Group. Zuckerberg said: "Dana, John and Charlie will add a depth of expertise and perspective that will help us tackle the massive opportunities ahead with [artificial intelligence], wearables and the future of human connection." Zuckerberg, who chairs the board, holds majority of the voting power at Meta under its dual-class share structure. The Meta CEO has embraced cage fighting and martial arts recreationally in recent years in what some observers see as an attempt to revamp his image following years of scandals over issues such as privacy and moderation at Meta. Last October, White said he had reached out to Zuckerberg for help with improving the UFC rankings system through AI -- a technology that Meta and its Big Tech peers have been racing to develop and deploy. He is also the owner of Power Slap, a slap fighting promotion company. White said: "I've never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board. I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future." He added: "There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level." News of the boardroom additions comes just weeks before Donald Trump is set to return to the White House, and his Republican party is poised to control both chambers of Congress. Following years of cool relations between the president-elect and Zuckerberg, during which Trump accused its Facebook platform of repeatedly censoring right-wing voices, the social media chief has been on a charm offensive, publicly congratulating Trump on his victory and dining with him at Mar-a-Lago. Meta also donated $1mn to his inauguration fund. Prominent Silicon Valley figures have made similar trips, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, or made donations to Trump's inauguration fund, such as OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. Last week, Meta said it was replacing global affairs chief Nick Clegg with Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican known for overseeing the company's relationship with conservatives. The company now has 13 directors on its board in total, including powerful venture capitalist and Trump ally Marc Andreessen, who has been helping with recruitment for Elon Musk's panel aimed at cutting US government spending.

Meta names Trump supporter Dana White to board in latest revamp by...

Meta Platforms said Monday it had elected three new directors to its board, including Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and close friend of President-elect Donald Trump. The Facebook-parent also elected Charlie Songhurst, an investor and former Microsoft executive, as well as John Elkann, CEO of Exor, a holding company controlled by Italy's Agnelli family with interests in European businesses such as 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 said. Trump has had a long relationship with White, who had spoken in support of his candidacy at the Republican National Convention in July, and previously at the 2016 and 2020 conventions. Zuckerberg, likewise, has developed a relationship with White in recent years as a mixed martial arts enthusiast and recreational fighter. In one of their early public exchanges, Zuckerberg thanked White in an Instagram post in 2022 for inviting him to attend a UFC fight, while the UFC posted a photo online of the two embracing in front of the "Octagon" cage where fights take place. Elkann is also the executive chairman of Stellantis NV and Ferrari, and chair of the nonprofit Agnelli Foundation, which focuses on education. Songhurst has been serving on a four-member AI advisory group Meta convened in May to offer guidance on "strategic opportunities" in relation to the company's roadmap. Zuckerberg has been positioning Meta for a potential second Trump presidency, expressing regret over previous content decisions that were unpopular with conservatives and praising Trump's response to an assassination attempt. Last week, the company elevated prominent Republican policy executive Joel Kaplan to the position of global affairs head. Meta also donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund, in a departure from its past practice.

Meta Adds UFC's Dana White to Board

Meta Platforms said Monday that UFC President Dana White is among three new members of its board of directors. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said White, Exor CEO John Elkann and technology investor Charlie Songhurst were elected as directors to aid in the company's focus on artificial intelligence and wearable technology. Zuckerberg is a noted fan of mixed martial arts, the fighting sport at the center of UFC. White has also been a high-profile supporter and friend of President-elect Donald Trump. "I've never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board," White said. "I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future." Meta touted White's success in making UFC a global business. Elkann runs Exor, a major investment company in Europe controlled by the Agnelli business dynasty family. Songhurst previously served as general manager and head of global corporate strategy at Microsoft, with a focus on partnerships and M&A.

UFC Chief Dana White to Join Mark Zuckerberg on Meta Board of Directors

NBCU's Ad Sales Chief Previews CES Reveal: Peacock's AI-Driven Ad Products and More In a surprise move, UFC chief Dana White will join the board of directors of Meta Platforms Inc, the tech giant that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg -- an avid mixed martial arts fan -- announced the addition of White and two other board members, John Elkann and Charlie Songhurst, Monday. "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. In a post on Facebook, Zuckerberg said that he had been working on add the nw board members for a while, and of White he wrote that "I've admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand." "I've never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board," White added in a statement. "I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future." "I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside," he added. "There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level." White joins John Elkann, the CEO of European investment firm Exor, and the executive chairman of Ferrari, and Charlie Songhurst, a veteran technology investor, on the board. Zuckerberg and White are friendly, with the Facebook founder an occasional guest at UFC matches. Zuckerberg has also trained with UFC fighters, and competed in local MMA bouts in California. White is also very close with incoming President Trump, who Zuckerberg and other tech moguls have tried to forge a relationship with ahead of his second term.

UFC boss Dana White and Exor CEO John Elkann to join Meta board

The UFC's president and CEO has been appointed to the social media giant's board of directors, alongside Exor CEO John Elkann and investor Charlie Songhurst. Dana White, the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has been appointed to Meta's board of directors. White has been appointed alongside John Elkann, the CEO of European investment firm Exor, and Charlie Songhurst, a technology start-up investor. Other notable members of the board include Tony Xu, the CEO of DoorDash, and John Arnold, the co-founder of Arnold Ventures. White's appointment to Meta comes just days after former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg announced that he would be stepping down as the tech giant's global affairs president. He will be succeeded by former Republican White House staffer John Kaplan. White is responsible for the strategic direction of UFC's global business, which produces more than 40 live events annually while broadcasting to 975m households across more than 170 countries. He was recently named one of the most influential figures in sports by Sports Illustrated (2023) and Sports Business Journal (2024), as well as one of the most influential executives in media by Variety (2024). Commenting on the appointments, the CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg said: "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." White said that he is "a huge believer that social media and AI are the future". "I've never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board," he said. "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." Songhurst had this to say about his appointment: "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 honoured to be asked to join the board to further this work." UFC platforms were previously embroiled in controversy after they were accused of facilitating hate speech, a claim which White has rejected. Last year, a tense exchange he had with a reporter who questioned why he allowed fighters to make anti-LGBTQ+ remarks went viral. White himself also experienced controversy in 2023 when a video emerged of him in a physical altercation with his wife outside a nightclub. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

UFC CEO Dana White joins Meta's board of directors: 'Social media and AI are the future'

Dana White, President and CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is stepping out of the octagon and into the tech boardroom. On Monday, it was announced that White would be joining Meta's board of directors. Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp. "I've never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board. Iam a huge believer that social media and AI are the future," said White. White isn't the only one excited for his new venture. Meta co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in his own statement that he believes White 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." No. This will be White's first step into the world of social media and AI, but he is a huge fan of what Meta is trying to accomplish. "I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside," White said. "There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level." Outside of UFC though, White has struggled to find similar success in his other ventures. In 2021, White served as an executive producer on the short-lived surfing show The Ultimate Surfer, which was canceled after one season due to low ratings. More recently, White co-founded a slap fighting competition called Power Slap, which aired on TBS in 2023. Much like The Ultimate Surfer, it did not last. TBS did not renew their deal with White, and now the competition streams exclusively on the platform Rumble. Of course, those failures pale in comparison to the massive success of UFC. Much of that success has been due to White's role managing the company's global business, an expertise that will be invaluable to a company like Meta operating on a similar worldwide scale. White's influence in sport speaks for itself. In 2023, he was named one of Sports Illustrated's most influential figures; in 2024, he was given similar honors from Sports Business Journal and Variety. Who else joined White on Meta's board of directors? White was not the only addition to Meta's board of directors. Alongside White comes Exor CEO John Elkann and tech investor Charlie Songhurst. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news -- fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Meta Appoints UFC's Dana White, Other to its Board By Investing.com

MENLO PARK - Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META). announced the appointment of three new members to its board of directors, expanding its leadership team with notable figures from the sports, investment, and technology sectors. Dana White, John Elkann, and Charlie Songhurst were elected to the board, bringing a diverse range of expertise to the social media giant. Dana White, President and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), expressed enthusiasm for joining Meta's board, citing his belief in the future of social media and artificial intelligence (AI). White's leadership has been instrumental in transforming UFC into a global sports powerhouse, with his efforts recognized by prominent industry publications. John Elkann, CEO of Exor (AS:EXOR), brings a wealth of global experience and a long-term investment perspective to the table. Elkann has played a significant role in the automotive industry, contributing to the success of companies like Ferrari (NYSE:RACE) and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), and has established himself as a key player in the investment community through Exor and his investment management company, Lingotto. Charlie Songhurst, a seasoned technology investor with a portfolio of over 500 startups, adds extensive knowledge in enterprise SaaS, AI, and deep tech. His previous tenure as General Manager and Head of Global Corporate Strategy at Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), where he led significant acquisitions, underscores his strategic acumen. Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, highlighted the trio's depth of expertise and perspective as critical to the company's ambitions in AI, wearables, and the future of human connection. The addition of White, Elkann, and Songhurst to the board is seen as a strategic move to bolster Meta's leadership as it navigates a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The new appointments join an already diverse group of board members at Meta, which includes prominent figures from various industries, such as technology, finance, and retail. This expansion of the board is part of Meta's ongoing efforts to integrate diverse insights and experiences to drive innovation and growth. The information in this article is based on a press release statement from Meta Platforms Inc.

Dana White, John Elkann and Charlie Songhurst to Join Meta Board of Directors - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

MENLO PARK, Calif., Jan. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Meta today announced that Dana White, John Elkann and Charlie Songhurst have been elected to the company's board of directors. Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Meta, said, "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." "I've never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board. I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future," said Dana White, President and CEO of UFC®. "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." "I am honored to be able to contribute to the future of one of the most significant companies of the 21st century," said John Elkann, CEO of Exor. "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." "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," said Charlie Songhurst. Dana White serves as President and CEO of UFC®, the world's leading mixed martial arts organization, and one of the most valuable and globally popular properties in all of sports. White is responsible for the overall strategic direction of UFC's global business, which employs over 600 people across five continents. Under White's leadership, UFC has become a global sport powerhouse, producing more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. Over the course of his career, White has received numerous industry and business accolades for his impact and influence in sports. Most recently, White was named one of the most influential figures in sports by Sports Illustrated (2023) and Sports Business Journal (2024), as well as one of the most influential executives in media by Variety (2024). John Elkann is CEO of Exor, one of the largest European investment companies, controlled by the Agnelli family. He is also Executive Chair of Ferrari and Stellantis. He began his professional career in 2001 at General Electric as a member of the Corporate Audit Staff, with assignments in Asia, Europe and North America. In 2003, he joined the Fiat Group, and in 2004, he appointed Sergio Marchionne as its CEO, and together, they led the successful turnaround of the business. The company would later merge with Chrysler to form FCA and then with PSA in 2021 to create Stellantis. In 2009, Mr. Elkann established Exor with the purpose of "building great companies." Its portfolio is principally made up of companies in which it is the largest or reference shareholder, such as Ferrari, Stellantis, CNH, Philips, Christian Louboutin, Juventus Football Club and The Economist Group among others. In 2023, Mr. Elkann founded Lingotto, an investment management company committed to long-term and principal investing, wholly owned by Exor. He has also been investing in both early- and late-stage ventures globally and launched the Italian Tech Week, now one of Europe's most important tech conferences. Among his family's philanthropic activities, Mr. Elkann is Chair of the Agnelli Foundation, a non-profit, independent social sciences research institute with a focus on education. He is also a board member of MoMA. Born in New York in 1976, Mr. Elkann obtained a scientific baccalauréat from Lycée Victor Duruy in Paris, France, and graduated from Politecnico di Torino, the Engineering School of Turin, Italy. Charlie Songhurst is a technology investor who currently invests in more than 500 startups globally. He has extensive experience across enterprise SaaS, AI and deep tech. He previously served as General Manager and Head of Global Corporate Strategy at Microsoft, focused on partnerships and M&A. As part of this role, he led the Yahoo and Skype acquisitions. Before running Corporate Strategy, Charlie focused on the emergence of Google and the growth of the search industry. Charlie received a Bachelor's degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University. Meta's current board members are: Mark Zuckerberg; Peggy Alford, former Executive Vice President, Global Sales, PayPal Holdings, Inc.; Marc L. Andreessen, Andreessen Horowitz; John Arnold, Co-Founder, Arnold Ventures; John Elkann, CEO of Exor; Drew Houston, Co-Founder and CEO, Dropbox, Inc.; Nancy Killefer, Retired Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company; Robert M. Kimmitt, Meta's Lead Independent Director and Senior International Counsel at WilmerHale LLP; Charlie Songhurst; Hock E. Tan, President and CEO, Broadcom Inc.; Tracey T. Travis, Executive Vice President, Senior Adviser to the CEO, The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.; Dana White, President and CEO, Ultimate Fighting Championship; and Tony Xu, Co-Founder and CEO, DoorDash, Inc. About Meta Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. Contacts Investors: Kenneth Dorell [email protected] / investor.fb.com Press: Ashley Zandy [email protected] / about.fb.com/news/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dana-white-john-elkann-and-charlie-songhurst-to-join-meta-board-of-directors-302343463.html SOURCE Meta Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Dana White Wanted Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg In Cage Fight, Now He's On Meta's Board Of Directors - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

UFC CEO Dana White is among the new board members, which adds to the Zuckerberg vs. Musk cage fight storyline that almost happened. Dana White served as the matchmaker who wanted to make a cage fight between billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg a reality. While the fight didn't happen, White has now turned to helping one of the billionaires as a member of his company's board of directors. What Happened: White once said a cage fight between Musk and Zuckerberg could raise millions of dollars for charity. "This would be the biggest fight ever in the history of the world. It would break all pay-per-view records," White previously said. While the fight never happened, White is now tasked with helping Zuckerberg's company as he was named a member of the Meta Platforms META board of directors on Monday. White, who is the CEO of the UFC said he makes "fights that people want to see." Now alongside his everyday job, White will help Meta usher in the new era of artificial intelligence. "I've never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta's board. I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future," White said. White said he's excited to learn more about Meta from the inside and to join the incredible team. "There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level." The appointment of White brings a Donald Trump ally closer to the social media executive and could create synergies between UFC and Meta. While Trump and Zuckerberg previously clashed over social media bans imposed on the former president, Zuckerberg recently met with Trump and donated to his inauguration fund. The announcement of White joining the Meta board comes on the same day that WWE, which like UFC is owned by TKO Group Holdings TKO, is set to make its live debut on streaming giant Netflix. You may not be a billionaire like Mark Zuckerberg, but you can uncover hidden gems in the stock market using our proprietary data and pattern recognition -- check out five stocks flying under the radar that deserve your attention. Other Board Appointees: Alongside White, two other Meta board of directors appointees were announced Monday. Exor CEO John Elkann and investor Charlie Songhurst were also announced as new Meta board members. Exor, which is controlled by the Agnelli family, is one of the largest European investment companies, according to the press release. Elkann is the executive chairman of both Stellantis NV STLA and Ferrari NV RACE. Exor owns stakes in Stellantis, Ferrari, CNH, Phillips, Louboutin and Juventus Football Club. "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. Songhurst is an investor specializing in the technology sector and startups. He previously worked at Microsoft helping with partnerships and M&A. "As part of Meta's advisory group, I've seen firsthand the opportunities to scale new products and grow AI and enterprise capabilities," Songhurst said. Zuckerberg highlighted the AI opportunity in Monday's announcement. "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. META Price Action: Meta stock closed Monday up 4.23% to $630.20 versus a 52-week trading range of $352.05 to $638.40. Meta shares were up 0.66% to $634.35 in after-hours trading. The stock is up 76% over the past year. TKO shares traded higher on news of the announcement in the after-hours trading market before returning to the $141.63 level it closed at Monday at the time of writing. Read Next: World's Top 10 Richest People Gained More Wealth In 2024 Than Costco And Nike's Combined Valuation: How Elon Musk, Warren Buffett And Others Fared Photo: Shutterstock METAMeta Platforms Inc$634.354.92%Overview Rating:Good62.5%Technicals Analysis1000100Financials Analysis400100WatchlistOverviewRACEFerrari NV$423.331.42%STLAStellantis NV$13.023.91%TKOTKO Group Holdings Inc$143.800.98%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs