Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced the appointment of Dina Powell McCormick as the company's President and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, a first in the company's history. This newly created 'President' role did not previously exist within Meta's corporate structure. The company's applications attract nearly four billion active monthly users worldwide. Meta's revenue reached approximately $164.5 billion in 2024, while its workforce numbers around 74,000 employees operating in offices across dozens of countries. Who is Dina Powell? Dina Powell, née Dina Habib, of Egyptian origin, was born in Cairo in 1973. She immigrated to the United States with her family in 1977 at the age of four, where they settled in Dallas, Texas. She later earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and began her career in Texas state politics after graduating from a training program in the office of Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. In 2003, she joined the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush, becoming the youngest White House presidential aide at the age of 29. She also held several prominent positions at the U.S. State Department, including Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs under Condoleezza Rice, and later Deputy Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy in 2005. Rice later described her as 'one of the most capable people' she had ever worked with. In 2007, Powell transitioned to the world of finance and business by joining Goldman Sachs, where she rose through the ranks to become head of the Social Impact Investing division in 2010. She later served as President of the Global Client Services division at the investment bank BDT & MSD Partners, while also being a member of the boards of several major corporations, including the oil giant ExxonMobil. With this appointment, Dina Powell becomes the first to hold the role, while Meta's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, continues to serve as CEO and Chair of the Board. According to the company's statement, Powell, who was previously a member of Meta's board, will join the executive team to help guide the company's overall strategy for the next phase, focusing on expanding investments and building international partnerships, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. The appointment has received significant political praise. U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Dina Powell on the Truth Social platform, calling her a 'great choice' and noting that she had served his administration 'with strength and distinction.' Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg stated in the press release that Powell's deep experience in global finance, combined with her international network, puts her in a unique position to help Meta navigate its next stage of development. He explained that she will play a pivotal role in enhancing sovereign partnerships with governments, which will support the company's investments in artificial intelligence. Her husband, Republican Senator David McCormick, who won a Senate seat from Pennsylvania in the 2024 election, also congratulated her. Meta is a multinational technology company headquartered in California, USA, and is classified as one of the world's largest internet and digital communications companies.
