NEW YORK – Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a seasoned finance executive and former adviser during the Trump administration, as its new president and vice chairman.

Before stepping into her new role, Powell McCormick was a member of Meta’s board of directors, where she played a significant role in advancing the company’s artificial intelligence initiatives. As she transitions to management, Meta announced that she will be integral to steering the tech giant’s strategic direction, including overseeing substantial investment projects.

The announcement, made on Monday, received swift praise from former U.S. President Donald Trump. He took to his platform, Truth Social, to commend Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s decision, describing Powell McCormick as a “great choice” and highlighting her commendable service during his administration.

Mark Zuckerberg expressed his enthusiasm for Powell McCormick’s new position, citing her extensive experience in global finance and her strong international connections as key assets that position her to guide Meta toward future success.

Powell McCormick brings a wealth of experience from her time serving in two presidential administrations and with the Republican National Committee. She began her career as a national security adviser at the onset of Trump’s presidency. Additionally, she held significant roles in both the White House and the State Department during President George W. Bush’s tenure. She is married to U.S. Senator David McCormick, who previously held prominent positions within the Commerce and Treasury Departments under Bush and later became the CEO of Bridgewater Associates, a leading hedge fund.

And Powell McCormick has a long background in finance. She spent 16 years in senior leadership at Goldman Sachs, but was most recently vice chair, president and head of global client services at merchant bank BDT & MSD Partners. She’s also held a handful of other corporate board positions — including at oil giant Exxon Mobil.

According to a securities filing, Powell McCormick had previously resigned from Meta’s board in December, eight months after joining as a director.

The addition of Powell McCormick to Meta’s management team arrived amid wider efforts from California-based Meta to boost its ties with Trump, who was once banned from Facebook. Like other powerful tech CEOs, Zuckerberg has dined with the president at the White House and doubled down on U.S. investment promises worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Last year, the company also appointed Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White to its board, another familiar figure in Trump’s orbit.

_____

AP Reporter Marc Levy contributed to this report from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.