Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has appointed former Trump administration official and veteran banker Dina Powell McCormick as president and vice chairman of the technology giant, a move that underscores Meta’s growing focus on artificial intelligence and large-scale infrastructure expansion.
Powell McCormick, who previously served on Meta’s board, will now join the company’s executive leadership team as it ramps up what Zuckerberg has described as “the massive physical and financial model that will power the next decade of computing.”
“Dina’s experience at the highest levels of global finance, combined with her deep relationships around the world, makes her uniquely suited to help Meta manage this next phase of growth,” Zuckerberg said in a statement announcing the appointment.
In a separate post, Zuckerberg noted that Powell McCormick will be deeply involved across Meta’s operations, with a particular emphasis on working with governments and sovereign partners to build, deploy, invest in, and finance the company’s expanding AI and infrastructure ambitions.
Driving Meta’s AI Infrastructure Push
The appointment comes as Meta significantly accelerates its investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, including data centres and energy supply systems, in a bid to keep pace with rivals pouring billions into AI development.
In her new role, Powell McCormick’s extensive banking background is expected to play a central role in shaping Meta’s overall AI infrastructure strategy. She will oversee multi-billion-dollar investments and focus on forging partnerships aimed at expanding the company’s investment capacity.
Meta said her experience will be critical as the company seeks long-term financing options to support its aggressive AI spending plans.
Global Finance and Political Experience
An Egyptian-American, Powell McCormick spent 16 years at Goldman Sachs, where she was a partner, served on the firm’s management committee, and led its global sovereign investment banking business. Sovereign wealth funds — particularly from the Middle East — have emerged as major backers of AI infrastructure projects and could prove instrumental in helping Meta meet its investment goals.
Her most recent role was at BDT & MSD Partners, a banking and advisory firm reportedly involved in efforts to identify US investors for TikTok, according to Axios.
Politically, her appointment reflects a continued shift in Zuckerberg’s approach to public policy and governance. Powell McCormick, a Republican, is one of the most prominent politically conservative figures to join Meta’s leadership since former chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg — a member of the Clinton administration — departed the company in 2022.
Zuckerberg has recently signalled a more visible alignment with conservative positions, including ending third-party fact-checking initiatives, rolling back diversity programmes, and adopting a more traditionally masculine public image.
President Donald Trump congratulated Powell McCormick on her appointment in a social media post, describing her as “a fantastic and very talented person, who served the Trump Administration with strength and distinction.”
Powell McCormick served as deputy national security adviser during Trump’s first term, where she played a key role in shaping US foreign policy. She is married to Republican Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania.
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