Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures across the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we put together periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel moves in one convenient place.
If you know of a change at your own studio—whether it’s a new appointment, a transition, or a departure—please forward the details (name, new role, company, and previous position) to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has taken on the role of General Partner at 1Up Ventures. Prior to this, he was the Business Development Director at Tencent Games, where he helped shape the company’s publishing and partnership strategies. Satvat also founded and leads the Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative dedicated to helping professionals find employment within the gaming industry.
In his own words, “I wanted a more direct link between the actions I could take with a team and actually getting people back to work. I wanted to see more individuals’ dreams of creating games become reality because of something I contributed. I also hoped to work in an environment that focuses on smaller studios, because I love that scale, and that puts community first.” He added, “My ultimate goal was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I hold myself to. Accepting the invitation to join 1Up feels like those goals are finally aligning.” Satvat emphasized his belief in 1Up’s unique position in the ecosystem, stating, “1Up is a pivotal player in the games landscape, and I want its distinctive approach to investing in games to endure for as long as possible.” In a separate leadership shift, Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and Managing Director of Housemarque, has stepped down after an impressive 31‑year tenure.
Kuittinen co‑established Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen, following the merger of 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 during three decades of extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before becoming part of the PlayStation Studios family.” He explained that the transition was carefully planned behind the scenes. On July 1, Sami “Haxu” Hakala officially assumed the Managing Director position, and Kuittinen continued to support Hakala and the leadership team to ensure a seamless handover.
“Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are in exceptional hands,” Kuittinen affirmed. Tamara Feiman has been appointed 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. Speaking about her promotion, Feiman remarked, “I joined Lion six years ago, and since then I’ve had the privilege of growing alongside the company through its biggest successes, challenges, and transformations.
What makes Lion special is how we collaborate with our partner studios. Together we’ve taken risks, learned quickly, and turned great ideas into games played by millions.” She highlighted the collective nature of Lion’s achievements, noting, “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 served as Digital Strategy and Community Manager at Undead Labs, bringing a wealth of experience in community engagement and digital marketing.
Emily Rose Chen has been promoted to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise at Activision Blizzard. Chen originally joined the company as a financial analyst in 2020, later moving into product management where she contributed to several high‑profile releases before earning this senior role.
Scot McCarron also received a promotion within Activision Blizzard, advancing to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty. McCarron entered Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises and later served as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty team, overseeing key product initiatives and roadmap execution.
These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent mobility within the gaming sector, where seasoned veterans and rising stars alike continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment. Whether it’s steering venture capital firms toward promising indie studios, guiding legacy developers through generational change, or scaling publishing operations to reach global audiences, each appointment reflects a broader industry trend: a relentless focus on community, innovation, and sustainable growth.
As the market evolves, keeping an eye on these leadership shifts provides valuable insight into where the next waves of creativity and investment may emerge.