Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and promotions in the video‑game sector can be a real challenge, which is why we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel movements. If you know of a recent appointment or a change in leadership that belongs in this list, please forward the name of the individual, the new title, the company, as well as the previous role and employer to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has taken on the role of general partner at 1Up Ventures.
Before this, Satvat was the business development director for Tencent Games, where he helped shape the company’s strategic partnerships across multiple markets. He is also the founder and driving force behind Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative designed to connect job‑seekers with opportunities throughout the gaming industry. "I wanted to feel a more direct connection between the things I could influence and do with a team and putting people back to work," Satvat explained.
"I wanted to see more people's dreams of making games come true because of something I did. I also hoped I could work in a setting focused on smaller studios, because I love games of that size so much, and in a setting built around community first." Satvat added that his decision to join 1Up was guided by a desire to align with colleagues who share his values and integrity. "My final wish was to work with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I try to hold myself to.
In accepting the team’s invitation to join 1Up, I am seeing all of these wishes realised," he said. He also praised 1Up’s unique position in the ecosystem, noting, "1Up is a very important player in the games ecosystem, and I want to see its unique approach to games investing survive for as long as possible." Turning to Housemarque, co‑founder and managing director Ilari Kuittinen announced his departure after an impressive 31‑year tenure. Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen, merging their earlier studios Bloodhouse and Terramarque into the company that would later become a hallmark of Finnish game development.
Reflecting on his career, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate. We had the luck of being in the right place at the right time during three decades of incredible industry growth, allowing us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before finding a home within the PlayStation Studios family." He emphasized that the leadership transition had been meticulously planned behind the scenes.
Effective July 1, Sami "Haxu" Hakala stepped into the managing director role, and Kuittinen continued to support Hakala and the broader leadership team to ensure a seamless handover. "Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are in exceptional hands," Kuittinen affirmed, expressing confidence in the studio’s future direction. In another notable appointment, Tamara Feiman has been named chief executive officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios.
Feiman’s journey with Lion began in 2020 when she joined as the EMEA business development lead, later moving into the role of publishing general manager. "I joined Lion six years ago," Feiman remarked. "Since then, I've had the privilege of growing alongside the company through its biggest successes, challenges and transformations.
But what has always made Lion special is how we work with our partner studios. Together, we've taken risks, learned quickly and turned great ideas into games played by millions." Feiman also highlighted the collaborative culture that defines Lion Studios. "And 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," she said, underscoring the collective effort behind the studio’s achievements. Additional personnel updates include Heather Sangria, who has joined 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 management role at Undead Labs, bringing a wealth of experience in building and nurturing player communities. At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has been promoted to senior product manager for the Call of Duty franchise.
Chen began her career at the company as a financial analyst in 2020, later transitioning to product management where she has overseen key features and live‑service initiatives for the flagship series. Similarly, Scot McCarron has advanced to senior director of product management for Call of Duty.
McCarron originally joined Activision in 2018 as a product marketing manager for emerging franchises, later moving into product management and now overseeing the broader product strategy for one of the industry’s most recognizable titles. These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming sector, where seasoned veterans and emerging leaders alike continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment. Whether it’s fostering community, guiding investment, or steering product direction, each of these individuals brings a distinct perspective that will influence the next wave of game development and publishing.