SmartNews Announces Appointment of New CFO
TOKYO, JAPAN (October 1, 2024)– SmartNews, a global leader in news discovery, announced the appointment of Jin Akiyama as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective October 1. SmartNews is dedicated to delivering the world’s quality information to the people who need it.
Jin Akiyama’s career history:
Akiyama began his career at Mitsubishi Corporation and joined Bank of America Merrill Lynch (current BofA Securities, Inc.) in 2001. Under the Investment Banking Division, he advised companies on M&A and financing. Akiyama then joined GREE, Inc., in 2011, where he served as SVP of Corporate before becoming a Member of the Board, overseeing Finance, Legal, Human Resources, and Overseas Operations. From 2018, he fulfilled major responsibilities as Operating Officer and Group CFO at ADK Holdings Inc. Akiyama graduated from the University of Tokyo with a BA in Economics in 1995 and obtained his MBA from INSEAD in 2000.
Comment from SmartNews’s new CFO Jin Akiyama:
“I have taken on the role of CFO to support SmartNews’s growth into its next stage. The SmartNews app has one of the largest user bases of any news app in Japan and is being used as an essential daily service in the United States. SmartNews is on the cusp of further growth on a global stage. With the support and understanding of various stakeholders involving SmartNews, we will work closely together to achieve substantial business growth.”
Comment from SmartNews’s CEO Kaisei Hamamoto:
“We are pleased to have Jin Akiyama join SmartNews as CFO and further strengthen our management structure. Mr. Akiyama’s leadership, rooted in experiences and knowledge gained through working in a global environment, will contribute to SmartNews’s future growth. Under our new CFO, we will build a robust financial strategy to offer long-term value to our shareholders, employees, partner companies, and users.”
About SmartNews
Founded in 2012, SmartNews is a leading global information and news discovery company, dedicated to delivering quality information to the people who need it. SmartNews provides news that matters to millions of readers using powerful AI discovery, a team of award-winning journalists offering thoughtful curation, and deep partnerships with more than 1,500 trusted global publisher partners.
Contact: SmartNews
Jin Akiyama