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Cantellus group adds AI firepower as former Mediasmart founder Noelia Amoedo joins as advisor
SAN FRANCISCO: The Cantellus group is sharpening its AI edge—and it’s doing so with intent. The boutique advisory has roped in Noelia Amoedo as advisor, bolstering its bench as clients grapple with the messy middle of AI adoption, governance and trust.
Amoedo is no theorist. She is a builder. Best known as founder and CEO of Mediasmart, she scaled the AI-led programmatic advertising firm into a profitable global SaaS business before steering it to a successful acquisition by listed Affle Group. The deal turned heads—and set the tone for a career spent converting emerging tech into hard currency.
Over a 25-year, five-continent career, Amoedo has led international expansion at Palm/HP, Hi5 Networks and the Buongiorno group, riding—and often shaping—waves from micropayments and mobile services to social networks and AI-powered advertising. Few can claim to have seen so many tech cycles from the engine room.
Today, as managing partner at Nodeom, she advises enterprises on human-centric AI strategy, helping boards and c-suites navigate governance, ethics and adoption without killing innovation. Her pitch is simple but sharp: human + AI collaboration is not a risk to manage, but a competitive advantage to weaponise.
A Fulbright scholar and Aspen Institute fellow in Spain, Amoedo holds an MS in electrical engineering from Stanford University and a BS in physics from the University of Santiago de Compostela—credentials that explain her comfort moving between code, culture and corner offices.
For Cantellus, which advises clients on frontier technology strategy, oversight and governance, the appointment is timely. As regulation tightens and AI moves from pilot to P&L, Amoedo’s mix of entrepreneurial grit and governance nous could prove decisive.
In an era of black-box algorithms and boardroom nerves, Cantellus has chosen clarity over hype. And with Amoedo on board, it is betting that the future of AI will be built not just smart—but human.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
