Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick as its new president and vice chair, marking a pivotal moment in the tech giant’s strategy as it accelerates its artificial intelligence ambitions and strengthens ties with Washington power brokers.
The former Trump aide and Wall Street veteran brings extensive experience from Goldman Sachs, government service, and a previous stint on Meta’s board to guide the company’s strategy, infrastructure initiatives, and investment plans. Powell McCormick will report directly to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who described her as “uniquely suited to help Meta manage this next phase of growth,” citing her “experience at the highest levels of global finance” and “deep relationships around the world.”
Powell McCormick’s career spans senior leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, where she served for 16 years, and vice chairmanship at BDT & MSD Partners, a prominent merchant bank. She also held key government positions, including deputy national security adviser under President Donald Trump and assistant secretary of state under President George W. Bush. Her connections across finance and politics position her to navigate both regulatory scrutiny and complex global investment initiatives.
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Her appointment comes after a brief tenure on Meta’s board from April to December 2025, and she is expected to play a central role in steering the company’s multi-billion-dollar investments, building strategic capital partnerships, and expanding Meta’s long-term growth capacity.
Wall Street has taken notice. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon praised Powell McCormick, telling Axios: “She’s an exceptional banker with superb relationships…a better banker and has more or better relationships than many big finance CEOs.”
Meta’s recent leadership reshuffle signals a shift in political alignment. Powell McCormick’s appointment follows the hiring of other former Trump officials, including Curtis Joseph Mahoney as chief legal officer, and elevations such as Joel Kaplan to chief global affairs officer. The company has also ended diversity programs and scrapped its U.S. fact-checking initiative, moves interpreted as aligning with the Trump administration and its supporters. Former President Trump personally congratulated Powell McCormick, calling her a “fantastic, and very talented, person” on Truth Social.
The appointment has also raised questions in Washington. Critics point to potential conflicts of interest involving her husband, Senator David McCormick, chair of the Senate subcommittee on energy policy, though his office says he will comply with all ethics rules.
Powell McCormick’s role at Meta has drawn comparisons to former COO Sheryl Sandberg, who leveraged her political ties to help the company navigate regulatory scrutiny. Powell McCormick is expected to play a similar role, though with a Republican-leaning approach.
Her arrival coincides with Meta’s ambitious AI and infrastructure plans. Zuckerberg unveiled the Meta Compute initiative on the same day, a plan to expand data center capacity to tens of gigawatts this decade, with Powell McCormick working closely with top executives to secure government partnerships and financing. The company is ramping up its AI capabilities to compete with Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic, following a lukewarm reception for its Llama 4 model and committing $72 billion in capital spending for 2025.
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Powell McCormick’s network extends into global tech dealmaking. Her previous firm, BDT & MSD Partners, has been linked to high-profile deals, including potential TikTok transactions, underscoring her influence in finance and tech strategy.
Meta stands at a crossroads, navigating regulatory pressures, a competitive AI landscape, and political currents in Washington. With Powell McCormick at the helm, the company is betting on a future that blends Wall Street acumen with political influence, aiming to secure its next chapter of growth.
All eyes will be on Meta as it charts this bold new path, and with Powell McCormick leading the charge, the company’s next phase promises to be dynamic, strategic, and closely watched.
