Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and promotions in the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. That’s why we gather the most noteworthy personnel moves into periodic round‑ups for easy reference.
If you know of any recent appointments or role changes that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, new company, as well as their previous position and employer to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has taken on the role of General Partner at 1Up Ventures. Prior to this, he spent several years as Business Development Director at Tencent Games, where he helped forge strategic partnerships and expand the publisher’s global footprint.
In addition to his corporate experience, Satvat founded and leads the community initiative Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform dedicated to helping aspiring professionals locate opportunities within the games industry. "I wanted a role where the impact of my work could be felt more directly, where I could collaborate with a team to actually get people back to work," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to help turn more people's dreams of creating games into reality.
I also wanted to focus on smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for that scale of development, and I wanted to be part of an organization that puts community first." He continued, "My final wish was to work alongside colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I strive for. Accepting 1Up’s invitation feels like all those wishes are finally coming together." Satvat added, "1Up is a crucial player in the broader games ecosystem, and I hope its distinctive approach to investing in games endures 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‑established Housemarque in 1995 together with Harri Tikkanen, following the merger of their earlier studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. "Reflecting on the journey, I feel incredibly fortunate," Kuittinen said.
"We were in the right place at the right time for three decades of extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to remain fiercely independent for 26 years before eventually joining the PlayStation Studios family." He noted that the leadership transition had been meticulously planned behind the scenes. "On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially stepped into the Managing Director role. 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 very capable hands." In other news, Tamara Feiman has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios. Feiman previously served as Publishing General Manager and began her career at Lion Studios in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead. "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 the way we collaborate with our partner studios. Together we’ve taken risks, learned quickly, and turned great ideas into games enjoyed by millions." She emphasized the collaborative nature of the organization: "Lion has never been about a single individual. I’m fortunate to work with an outstanding team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners around the world." Further 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 before that she handled digital strategy and community management for Undead Labs. At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has been promoted to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise. Chen started at the company in 2020 as a financial analyst, later moving into product management roles where she helped shape the direction of one of the industry’s most iconic series.
Similarly, Scot McCarron has advanced to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron originally joined Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, later becoming Director of Product Management for Call of Duty before earning his current senior‑director title. These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming sector, highlighting how seasoned professionals continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment through new challenges and leadership opportunities.