UFC CEO Dana White Joins Meta Board

Meta Platforms has announced that it has elected three new directors to its board. Amongst the three new board members are UFC CEO Dana White, who has recently developed a relationship with Mark Zuckerberg in recent years when the founder began recreationally fighting and taking mixed martial arts more seriously.

Alongside White as Meta’s three new directors are former Microsoft executive and investor Charlie Songhurst as well as John Elkann, the CEO of Exor, a holding company controlled by Italy’s Agnelli family and has interests in Christian Louboutin, Stellantis NV and Ferrari. On the election of White, Songhurst and Elkann to Meta’s board, 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.” Songhurst has been serving on Meta’s four-member AI advisory group since May, working on providing guidance on “strategic opportunities” in relation to the growth of the company.

Back in 2022, Zuckerberg said in an Instagram post, “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. I’ve admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand.” White attempted to broker a cage match between Zuckerberg and Musk in 2023, but the fight did not happen due to Musk’s injury.