Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and role changes across the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we gather the most noteworthy personnel movements into periodic round‑ups for easy reference. If you know of any recent appointments or transitions that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, and company, along with their previous position and employer, to newhires@gamesindustry.biz.
Amir Satvat has been brought on board at 1Up Ventures as its new General Partner. Prior to this move, Satvat spent several years at Tencent Games where he held the position of Business Development Director, overseeing strategic partnerships and market expansion initiatives.
He is also the founder and driving force behind Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative that helps aspiring professionals locate employment opportunities within the gaming ecosystem. "I wanted a role where the impact of my actions could be felt more directly, where I could work closely with a team to help get people back to work," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to turn more developers' dreams of creating games into reality, and I felt that a focus on smaller studios—games I’m personally passionate about—combined with a community‑first mindset would be the perfect fit." He continued, "My final aspiration was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I strive to uphold. Accepting the invitation to join 1Up feels like all those wishes are finally coming together." Satvat also praised 1Up’s role in the broader industry: "1Up is a vital player in the games ecosystem, and I’m committed to ensuring its distinctive approach to game investing endures for as long as possible." In other news, Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and former Managing Director of Housemarque, has stepped down after an impressive 31‑year tenure.
Kuittinen helped launch Housemarque in 1995 when he merged his own studio, Bloodhouse, with Harri Tikkanen’s Terramarque, creating a company that would become a staple of Finnish game development. 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 stay fiercely independent for 26 years before ultimately joining the PlayStation Studios family." He added, "We have carefully planned this leadership transition 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. Housemarque’s strategic direction and creative vision are now in exceptionally capable hands." 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 rising to Publishing General Manager. Her deep familiarity with the company’s culture and processes made her a natural choice for the top spot. "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. 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 that are played by millions." She emphasized the collective nature of the organization: "Lion has never been about any single individual.
I’m fortunate to work with an incredible team spanning publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners around the world." Additional personnel updates include Heather Sangria, who has taken the role of Community Manager at Sega of America. Sangria previously worked as a contract Social Strategist and Community Lead at One More Game, and earlier served as Digital Strategy and Community Manager at Undead Labs, bringing a wealth of community‑building experience to Sega.
At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has been promoted to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise. Chen originally joined the company as a Financial Analyst in 2020, later transitioning into product management and now overseeing key aspects of one of the world’s most iconic shooter series. Also at Activision Blizzard, Scot McCarron has advanced to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty. McCarron entered Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, progressed to Director of Product Management on Call of Duty, and now assumes broader senior‑level responsibilities for the franchise’s product strategy.
These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, where seasoned veterans and rising stars alike continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment.