SmartNews Appoints Shinsuke Usami as New Outside Director

SmartNews Inc. (Shibuya, Tokyo; Kaisei Hamamoto, President and CEO), whose mission is to deliver the world's high-quality information to those who need it, announced that Shinsuke Usami was elected as a new outside director at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on March 31, 2026.

Since its management restructuring in November 2023, the company has been continuously working to strengthen its oversight functions. This includes increasing the proportion of independent outside directors on the Board of Directors to enhance corporate governance. By welcoming Shinsuke Usami, the company aims to further enrich the board's oversight and strategic advisory functions for management.

### Reasons for Selection of Outside Director

Shinsuke Usami is an entrepreneur and executive with over 20 years of management experience in the internet and digital marketing fields. He founded VOYAGE GROUP in 1999 and led its MBO, listing on the TSE Mothers market in 2014, and transition to the TSE First Section in 2015. In 2019, he established CARTA HOLDINGS through a management integration with CCI, serving as Representative Director and Chairman (later as Representative Director, President, Executive Officer, and CEO). SmartNews expects him to contribute using his expertise in creating business opportunities, supporting growth, capital market strategies, and building governance systems for public companies.

SmartNews will continue to strive for excellence in corporate governance by strengthening the Board's oversight and advisory functions.

### SmartNews Inc. Board of Directors Structure

- Chairman of the Board: Ken Suzuki - President and CEO: Kaisei Hamamoto - Outside Director: Yuzuru Konno - Outside Director: Dan Springer - Outside Director: Etsuko Okajima - Outside Director: Katsuya Uenoyama - Outside Director: Shinsuke Usami (Appointed March 2026)

### Biography of Shinsuke Usami

After graduating from Waseda University's School of Commerce and joining Tohmatsu Consulting (now Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting), he worked for a software venture before founding Axiv.com (later VOYAGE GROUP) in October 1999. In 2001, he formed a capital and business alliance with CyberAgent, becoming a director of the company in 2005. He led the MBO of VOYAGE GROUP in 2012, its listing on TSE Mothers in 2014, and its move to the TSE First Section (now TSE Prime) in 2015. In 2019, he established CARTA HOLDINGS through the merger of VOYAGE GROUP and Cyber Communications, Inc., becoming Representative Director and Chairman, later serving as President and CEO.

### About SmartNews Inc.

Since its establishment on June 15, 2012, SmartNews Inc. has been driven by the mission of 'delivering the world's high-quality information to those who need it.' It develops the 'SmartNews' app in Japan and the US, boasting one of the largest user bases among domestic news apps. In late 2023, it launched its first subscription service, 'SmartNews+,' and along with its subsidiary SlowNews, provides high-quality reporting and diverse content born from excellent journalism. Through algorithms that analyze vast amounts of global information daily and strong partnerships with over 3,000 media partners worldwide, the company aims to effectively deliver quality information to as many users as possible through a comfortable interface optimized for smart devices, continuing to contribute to society.