Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures and promotions in the video‑game sector can be a daunting task, which is why we put together periodic round‑ups to capture the most noteworthy movements. If your organization has recent personnel changes that belong in this list, please forward the name of the individual, their new title, the company they are joining, as well as their previous role and employer to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has been appointed General Partner at 1Up Ventures. Prior to this, Satvat worked as Business Development Director for Tencent Games, where he helped shape partnership strategies and expand the publisher’s global footprint.
In addition to his corporate experience, he founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative designed to connect talent with opportunities across the gaming ecosystem. "I wanted a role where I could see a direct impact on both the teams I work with and the broader community of developers seeking employment," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to turn more people's aspirations of creating games into reality, and I felt that a firm focused on smaller studios would align perfectly with my passion for indie‑scale projects and a community‑first culture." He continued, "My final ambition was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I hold myself to. Accepting 1Up's invitation feels like all of those wishes have come together." Satvat added, "1Up is a pivotal player in the games investment landscape, and I’m eager to help preserve its distinctive, founder‑friendly approach for as long as possible." In other news, Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and Managing Director of Housemarque, has stepped down after an impressive 31‑year tenure.
Kuittinen, together with Harri Tikkanen, launched Housemarque in 1995 by merging their earlier studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. Reflecting on his career, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate.
We were in the right place at the right time throughout three decades of extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to remain fiercely independent for 26 years before ultimately joining the PlayStation Studios family." He noted that the leadership transition had been carefully orchestrated behind the scenes. "On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially assumed the Managing Director role, and I have continued to support him and the rest of the leadership team to ensure seamless operational continuity and stability.
Housemarque’s strategic direction and creative vision are now in excellent hands." Tamara Feiman has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios. Feiman’s journey with Lion began in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead, later advancing to Publishing General Manager.
"I joined Lion six years ago," Feiman said. "Since then, I’ve had the privilege of growing alongside the company through its biggest successes, challenges, and transformations.
What has always set Lion apart is our collaborative approach with partner studios. Together we’ve taken risks, learned quickly, and turned great ideas into games enjoyed by millions." Feiman emphasized the collective nature of Lion’s achievements: "Lion has never been about one person. I’m fortunate to work alongside an incredible team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners around the world." Additional appointments include Heather Sangria, who joins Sega of America as Community Manager. Sangria previously worked as a contract Social Strategist and Community Lead at One More Game and held a digital strategy and community role at Undead Labs.
Emily Rose Chen has been elevated to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a financial analyst, later transitioning to product management before earning this senior title. Scot McCarron also received a promotion at Activision Blizzard, moving up to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty. McCarron entered Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, later serving as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty portfolio before his latest advancement.
These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, highlighting both seasoned veterans stepping into new leadership roles and rising stars earning greater responsibility. The continued evolution of teams at studios and investment firms underscores the sector’s rapid growth and the importance of aligning talent with strategic vision.