Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Meta, has announced the appointment of Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), to the company's board. This decision comes as part of Meta's strategy to reinforce its connections with the incoming administration led by President-elect Donald Trump.

The addition of White, alongside John Elkann of Exor and former Microsoft executive Charlie Songhurst, signals Meta’s commitment to addressing upcoming opportunities in major sectors such as artificial intelligence and wearable technology. Zuckerberg praised White for creating one of the fastest-growing sports brands in the world, stating, "I've admired him as an entrepreneur and his ability to build such a beloved brand" (New York Times).

White's appointment appears well-timed as Meta seeks to mend its ties with Trump, with whom White has a longstanding relationship. Recently, White attempted to broker a highly publicized cage match between Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, showcasing his ties to both tech and sports worlds (BBC).

Meta has created new board positions, raising their total number to thirteen, as part of a broader initiative to enhance its leadership just ahead of the presidential inauguration. Zuckerberg remarked that the insights from the new members would provide significant expertise as the company navigates a competitive landscape in tech innovation.

This board restructuring follows other significant shifts within Meta, including the recent resignation of Sir Nick Clegg, the former president of global affairs. His replacement, Joel Kaplan, is known for his connections within the Republican Party, indicating Meta's strategic pivot toward more favorable relations with conservative leadership (New York Times).

In response to his new role, White expressed enthusiasm for the potential of social media, emphasizing his commitment to free speech despite facing controversies related to hate speech on UFC platforms. He stated, "I love social media and am excited to be a small part of the future of AI and emerging technologies" (BBC).