SmartNews Executive and Leadership Team

October, 2026

Leadership Overview

SmartNews has 6 executives leading key functions including advertising strategy, regional operations, corporate governance, technical innovation, financial planning, and global business execution.

Committed to delivering quality information through advanced machine learning, SmartNews empowers millions of users by connecting global audiences with essential news content from thousands of trusted publisher partners.

Leadership Roles at SmartNews

  • Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office - Taku Nishide
  • Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore) - Bi Wu
  • Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer - Kaisei Hamamoto
  • Chief Financial Officer - Jin Akiyama
  • Chief Operating Officer - Yi Ren
  • Chief Technology Officer - Haishan Liu
  • Taku Nishide - Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office

    Taku Nishide, the Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office at SmartNews, directs all advertising revenue streams across the Japanese market. By leveraging proprietary machine learning technology, the Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office optimizes ad placements to ensure high engagement for publisher partners. This leadership role involves managing complex relationships with domestic media entities while scaling monetization efforts to support the broader corporate mission. Taku Nishide drives regional growth by aligning advertising products with user consumption patterns. Through rigorous analysis of market trends, the executive ensures that ad inventory remains valuable and relevant. The Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office maintains operational excellence by coordinating with cross-functional teams to refine ad-tech infrastructure. Ultimately, the executive secures sustainable revenue growth while upholding the integrity of the news-discovery platform.
    Taku Nishide

    Bi Wu - Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore)

    Bi Wu, the Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore) at SmartNews, oversees strategic expansion and operational management within the Southeast Asian market. By directing regional initiatives, the Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore) ensures that the news-discovery platform meets the specific information needs of diverse user bases. This leadership role involves navigating complex regulatory environments and fostering partnerships with local media organizations to broaden the reach of quality journalism. Bi Wu drives organizational efficiency by implementing scalable processes that support rapid growth in international territories. Through constant monitoring of regional performance metrics, the executive identifies opportunities for market penetration and user acquisition. The Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore) coordinates with global leadership to maintain consistency in product quality and brand identity. Ultimately, the executive strengthens the company's global footprint by establishing a robust operational foundation in Singapore.

    Kaisei Hamamoto - Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

    Kaisei Hamamoto, the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at SmartNews, defines the overarching vision and strategic direction for the global news-discovery enterprise. By architecting the company's core mission to deliver quality information, the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer aligns product development with the needs of millions of users. This leadership role involves managing high-level relationships with global publisher partners and guiding the executive team toward long-term growth objectives. Kaisei Hamamoto drives innovation by championing the use of machine learning to curate relevant news content. Through consistent engagement with the Board, the executive ensures that corporate strategy remains focused on market impact and technological advancement. The Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer oversees the integration of diverse business functions to maintain a cohesive organizational culture. Ultimately, the executive secures the company's position as a leader in the media industry by fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
    Kaisei Hamamoto

    Jin Akiyama - Chief Financial Officer

    Jin Akiyama, the Chief Financial Officer at SmartNews, manages the financial health and fiscal strategy of the global news-discovery organization. By directing capital allocation and budgeting processes, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that resources support the company's mission to deliver quality information. This leadership role involves overseeing financial reporting, investor relations, and long-term planning to sustain growth across international markets. Jin Akiyama drives operational efficiency by implementing rigorous financial controls and performance metrics. Through collaboration with other C-suite leaders, the executive aligns financial goals with strategic business initiatives. The Chief Financial Officer monitors market trends to mitigate risks and identify opportunities for investment in new technologies or regional expansion. By maintaining transparency and fiscal discipline, the executive supports the company's stability and long-term viability. Ultimately, the executive secures the financial foundation necessary for the platform to continue serving millions of users worldwide.

    Yi Ren - Chief Operating Officer

    Yi Ren, the Chief Operating Officer at SmartNews, executes the daily operational strategies that enable the company to scale its global news-discovery services. By directing internal processes and cross-departmental workflows, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that the organization functions with maximum efficiency. This leadership role involves coordinating between product, engineering, and business development teams to streamline the delivery of quality information to users. Yi Ren drives organizational performance by optimizing resource utilization and implementing best practices across all regional offices. Through constant evaluation of operational bottlenecks, the executive improves the speed and quality of service delivery. The Chief Operating Officer supports the company's growth by fostering a collaborative environment that aligns individual efforts with corporate objectives. By overseeing the execution of strategic plans, the executive ensures that the company meets its performance targets. Ultimately, the executive maintains the operational agility required to succeed in the competitive media landscape.

    Haishan Liu - Chief Technology Officer

    Haishan Liu, the Chief Technology Officer at SmartNews, directs the development and deployment of the proprietary machine learning technology that powers the news-discovery platform. By architecting scalable infrastructure, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that millions of users receive high-quality information with minimal latency. This leadership role involves managing engineering teams to refine algorithms that curate news from thousands of global publisher partners. Haishan Liu drives technical innovation by exploring new applications for artificial intelligence in media consumption. Through close collaboration with the product team, the executive aligns technical capabilities with user experience goals. The Chief Technology Officer maintains system reliability and security to protect the integrity of the platform's data. By overseeing the entire technical roadmap, the executive supports the company's growth and competitive advantage in the news-discovery space. Ultimately, the executive ensures that the platform remains at the forefront of technological excellence.
    Haishan Liu

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding SmartNews Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads SmartNews?
    SmartNews is led by Taku Nishide (Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office), along with executives such as Bi Wu (Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore)) and Kaisei Hamamoto (Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer).
    Who is part of SmartNews’s executive team?
    The executive team of SmartNews includes leaders such as Taku Nishide (Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office), Bi Wu (Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore)), Kaisei Hamamoto (Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does SmartNews have?
    SmartNews has 6 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in SmartNews’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of SmartNews includes roles such as Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office, Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore), Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer.