Mitsubishi Corporation

AdTech Shakeup: Axel Springer Goes US, Ex-Meta Launches Anonym

ExchangeWire's weekly The Stack highlights several tech and advertising developments: German publisher Axel Springer plans a strategic overhaul to focus on the US market and discontinue print publications. In parallel, two former Meta executives launched Anonym, a startup promising privacy-preserving ad measurement. In Japan, major banks Mizuho, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mitsubishi are partnering to expand Web3 infrastructure and create the Japan Metaverse Economic Zone. Separately, Apple signaled a potential expansion of ads on Apple TV+ and named Lauren Fry to lead its video advertising efforts. The digest also notes ongoing industry coverage and invites submissions for press releases and podcasts, framing the news within a spring season of new beginnings in tech and highlighting cross-border strategy and potential advertising growth areas.

Japan Unites for Web3; EU Defends Big Tech Funding

Major Japanese technology, finance, and manufacturing firms including Fujitsu announced a collaboration with nine others to form the Japan Metaverse Economic Zone, aiming to build the infrastructure for Web3 marketing and to modernize Japan through gaming. Participants highlighted include Mizuho, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, and Mitsubishi. In Europe, EU industry chief Thierry Breton defended a consultation on whether Big Tech should fund telecoms investments, stating it is not a binary choice between networks providers and traffic sources and denying favoritism toward telcos. In Canada, TikTok was banned on government-issued devices due to privacy and security concerns, with Mona Fortier noting ongoing scrutiny into whether ByteDance-owned TikTok obtained valid consent to collect personal information.

‘Amazon For The CMO’: Podean Helps Brands And Agencies Navigate The Tech Giant

Podean positions itself as an independent Amazon consultancy with a holistic, CMOs-first approach to Amazon strategy, arguing that agencies often operate in silos across holding companies. Led by founder and CEO Mark Power and global CEO Travis Johnson, Podean aims to unify Amazon expertise across products and lines, to help brands and agencies structure their own Amazon practices under one roof. The firm audits a brand’s presence on Amazon across 40 to 50 touchpoints—covering share of voice, copy, content, reviews, and OTT—and works with endemic brands as well as those not currently selling on Amazon. Podean cites Mitsubishi as a notable engagement and discusses opportunities around Alexa integrations in automobiles. The interview contrasts Podean’s approach with traditional Amazon agencies by emphasizing “Amazon for the CMO” rather than solely ecommerce. The article notes Sellwin’s launch at Dentsu and Johnson’s exit from Sellwin earlier in November 2019.