Charles Songhurst

Songhurst graduated from the University of Oxford with a bachelor’s degree in politics, philosophy and economics (PPE).⁠[1][2]

From 2005 to 2009, Songhurst was a general manager at Microsoft, focusing on the emergence of Google and the growth of the search industry. From 2009 to 2013 he was general manager and head of global corporate strategy at Microsoft, focused on partnerships and M&A, and in that role led deals including the Skype acquisition.⁠[1][2][2][2]

After leaving Microsoft, Songhurst has been a technology investor since 2013, with a focus spanning enterprise SaaS, AI, and deep tech; as of January 2025, he had invested in more than 500 startups worldwide.⁠[1][2][2]

In 2024, Songhurst became a member of Meta’s advisory group.⁠[1]

Meta’s board increased its size to 13 seats and elected Dana WhiteDana WhiteDana White is an American sports executive and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the mixed martial arts promotion UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). In 2001 he and the Fertitta brothers bought the near-bankrupt UFC for $2 million, and the reality show The Ultimate Fighter brought the sport into the mainstream; the UFC was sold in 2016 for about $4 billion and became part of TKO Group Holdings in 2023. He is also a longtime supporter of Donald Trump and has been a director of Meta since late 2024.Open the full entry, John Elkann, and Songhurst as directors, effective immediately, determining that all three qualified as independent directors under Nasdaq rules; Meta announced the appointments on January 6, 2025. Songhurst said that as part of Meta’s advisory group he had seen firsthand the opportunities to scale new products and grow AI and enterprise capabilities, and that he was honored to be asked to join the board to further this work. Mark Zuckerberg said the three would add a depth of expertise and perspective to help Meta tackle the massive opportunities ahead with AI, wearables, and the future of human connection.⁠[3][3][2][2][2]

At Meta’s 2025 annual meeting, Songhurst was elected as a director with about 4.976 billion votes for and about 17.29 million against; all 15 director nominees were elected.⁠[4][4][4]

Songhurst invested as an angel in the first funding round of AI lab Conway ResearchConway ResearchConway Research is an artificial intelligence lab founded by Sigil Wen that works on efficient models, inference engines, and personal AI that runs on devices users already own; its first product is Underdog, a locally run personal assistant. In October 2026, Andreessen Horowitz announced that it was leading the company’s first funding round.Open the full entry, completed in April 2026.⁠[5][5]

At Meta’s 2026 annual meeting, Songhurst was re-elected as a director with about 4.922 billion votes for and about 47.13 million against. As of the 2026 proxy statement, he chaired the Risk and Strategy Committee of Meta’s board; Meta said his experience in enterprise SaaS, AI, and deep tech, along with his understanding of M&A processes and integration strategies, provides the board with insights into strategic direction and oversight.⁠[6][6][1][1][1]

Meta: Official website: https://about.meta.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[1]