SmartNews Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

SmartNews has 7 executives leading key functions including advertising strategy, regional operations, corporate governance, financial planning, technology development, and operational efficiency.

Committed to delivering quality information through 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
  • Group Head of Chief Operating Officer Office - Yoichi Tagaya
  • 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. Managing complex publisher relationships, the Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office optimizes monetization frameworks to ensure sustainable growth. This leadership role involves aligning ad-tech capabilities with the broader machine learning mission of the company. By scaling regional advertising initiatives, Taku Nishide directly influences the financial health of the organization. Nishide oversees the S Office to streamline internal processes and enhance cross-departmental collaboration. Through rigorous analysis of market trends, the Vice President, Ad Business (Japan) & Chief Executive Officer, S Office maintains a competitive edge in the media landscape. This executive ensures that advertising products remain relevant to millions of users while supporting the long-term vision of providing quality information to global audiences.
    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, manages strategic expansion and operational oversight within the Southeast Asian market. Coordinating with global leadership, the Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore) drives regional growth initiatives that align with the core mission of news discovery. This role involves navigating diverse regulatory environments and fostering partnerships with local media entities. By implementing scalable operational models, Bi Wu ensures that the platform delivers high-quality information to users across the region. Wu monitors performance metrics to refine user engagement strategies and improve content delivery systems. Through consistent focus on market penetration, the Chief Executive Officer, Office of Smartnews Pte Ltd (Singapore) strengthens the international footprint of the company. This leadership position requires balancing local market nuances with the overarching technological goals established by the global headquarters.

    Kaisei Hamamoto - Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

    Kaisei Hamamoto, the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer at SmartNews, architects the overarching vision and strategic direction for the global news-discovery platform. Leading the executive team, the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer defines the long-term roadmap for machine learning integration and publisher partnerships. This role involves constant engagement with the Board to ensure alignment with the mission of delivering quality information to millions. By fostering a culture of innovation, Kaisei Hamamoto drives the development of unique technologies that distinguish the platform in a crowded media landscape. Hamamoto oversees the expansion of the user base, which now exceeds 50 million downloads worldwide. Through decisive leadership, the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer maintains the company's commitment to journalistic integrity and user-centric design. This executive ensures that all operational activities support the fundamental goal of providing news that matters to people everywhere.
    Kaisei Hamamoto

    Jin Akiyama - Chief Financial Officer

    Jin Akiyama, the Chief Financial Officer at SmartNews, manages the fiscal health and capital allocation strategies for the global organization. Overseeing financial planning and analysis, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that resources support the company's machine learning technology and publisher partnership initiatives. This role involves rigorous monitoring of revenue streams and cost structures to maintain profitability while scaling operations. By providing data-driven insights, Jin Akiyama enables the executive team to make informed decisions regarding market expansion and product development. Akiyama coordinates with external stakeholders and investors to secure the financial stability required for long-term growth. Through disciplined fiscal management, the Chief Financial Officer supports the mission of delivering quality information to millions of users. This leadership role requires constant vigilance over global economic trends and internal performance metrics to ensure the company remains a leader in the news-discovery industry.

    Yi Ren - Chief Operating Officer

    Yi Ren, the Chief Operating Officer at SmartNews, manages the internal processes and cross-functional workflows that enable the company to scale its global operations. Focusing on organizational efficiency, the Chief Operating Officer ensures that departments remain aligned with the core mission of delivering quality information. This role involves optimizing the operational framework to support the integration of machine learning technology across all business units. By streamlining communication between teams, Yi Ren facilitates the rapid execution of strategic initiatives. Ren monitors operational performance to identify bottlenecks and implement solutions that enhance productivity. Through effective management of internal resources, the Chief Operating Officer supports the company's growth and its ability to serve millions of users. This leadership position requires a deep understanding of the media industry and the ability to translate high-level strategy into actionable, day-to-day operational excellence across all global regions.

    Yoichi Tagaya - Group Head of Chief Operating Officer Office

    Yoichi Tagaya, the Group Head of Chief Operating Officer Office at SmartNews, coordinates the administrative and strategic support functions that enable the Chief Operating Officer to maintain organizational alignment. Overseeing the operational office, the Group Head of Chief Operating Officer Office ensures that executive directives are executed across all departments. This role involves managing complex projects that bridge the gap between technical development and business operations. By facilitating seamless collaboration, Yoichi Tagaya supports the company's mission of delivering quality information to millions of users. Tagaya monitors the progress of key initiatives to ensure that the organization meets its performance targets. Through meticulous planning and resource management, the Group Head of Chief Operating Officer Office enhances the overall efficiency of the company. This executive plays a vital role in maintaining the operational rhythm necessary for the platform to thrive in the competitive global news-discovery market.

    Haishan Liu - Chief Technology Officer

    Haishan Liu, the Chief Technology Officer at SmartNews, directs the engineering teams responsible for the proprietary machine learning technology that powers the news-discovery platform. Architecting scalable infrastructure, the Chief Technology Officer ensures that the application delivers personalized, high-quality information to millions of users globally. This role involves overseeing the development of algorithms that curate news from over 3,000 publisher partners. By prioritizing technical innovation, Haishan Liu maintains the platform's competitive advantage in the media sector. Liu collaborates with other C-suite leaders to integrate new features that enhance user engagement and content relevance. Through continuous improvement of the technical stack, the Chief Technology Officer supports the company's mission of providing news that matters. This executive manages the lifecycle of software products, ensuring reliability and performance across diverse international markets while driving the technological evolution of the entire organization.
    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 7 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.