By Ding Magot

Dina Powell McCormick (née Habib), born on June 12, 1973, in Cairo, Egypt, is an Egyptian-American financial executive, philanthropist, former high-level government official, and now one of the most influential leaders in Big Tech. On January 12, 2026, Meta Platforms — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and a major player in artificial intelligence — announced her appointment as President and Vice Chairman. In this role, she joins the company’s management team, reporting directly to Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, where she will help guide Meta’s overall strategy, execution, and ambitious push into frontier AI, massive data center infrastructure, energy partnerships, and global growth.

Zuckerberg praised her appointment, stating: “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 as the company’s President and Vice Chairman.”

This move comes shortly after she served on Meta’s Board of Directors from April to December 2025, during which she was deeply involved in accelerating the company’s AI initiatives. Her transition from board member to full-time executive underscores Meta’s focus on scaling AI infrastructure amid intense competition and multibillion-dollar investments in compute power, data centers, and emerging technologies.

Dina Powell McCormick immigrated to the United States as a young child with her Coptic Christian family, settling in Dallas, Texas. Arriving without speaking English, she and her sisters benefited from her parents’ hard work in multiple jobs to provide access to education. She graduated from the University of Texas and quickly built a remarkable career in government.

During the George W. Bush administration, she held key roles including Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, and Deputy Undersecretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

In 2017, she joined the Donald Trump administration as Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy, where she played a pivotal role in shaping early foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East. She helped oversee major initiatives like the historic U.S.-Saudi arms deal and contributed to groundwork that later supported the Abraham Accords.

After leaving the White House in 2018, Powell McCormick transitioned to Wall Street. She spent 16 years at Goldman Sachs in senior leadership positions, including Global Head of Sovereign Business, Global Head of Sustainability and Inclusive Growth, and roles on the firm’s Management Committee. She led impactful programs such as 10,000 Women and 10,000 Small Businesses, focusing on entrepreneurship, economic inclusion, and impact investing.

Later, she served as Vice Chairman, President, and Global Head of Client Services at BDT & MSD Partners, continuing her work in global finance and strategic client relationships.

Her philanthropic efforts include board positions at organizations like the Robin Hood Foundation, National Geographic Society, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the Atlantic Council. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling book Who Believed in You: How Purposeful Mentorship Changes the World.

Powell McCormick’s new role at Meta highlights the company’s strategic evolution in the AI era. Her expertise in global finance, national security, and high-stakes dealmaking positions her to oversee complex infrastructure builds, strategic partnerships (including in energy and connectivity) and government relations — especially relevant as Meta navigates regulatory landscapes under shifting political dynamics.

Notably, former President Donald Trump publicly congratulated her on Truth Social, calling her a “fantastic, and very talented” individual who served with distinction. The appointment is seen as part of Meta’s broader efforts to strengthen ties in Washington and accelerate its AI ambitions.

Married to U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA), Powell McCormick balances her professional achievements with family life as a wife and mother. Her journey from an immigrant child in Texas to one of the top executives at a global tech powerhouse exemplifies resilience, leadership, and cross-sector impact.

As Meta continues its transformation into an AI-first company, Dina Powell McCormick is poised to play a central role in shaping its future.