Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions and departures in the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel moves across the industry. If you know of a recent appointment or a leadership transition that belongs in this list, please forward the name, new title, company, as well as the previous role and organization to newhires@gamesindustry.biz.
Amir Satvat has been added to the leadership team at 1Up Ventures, assuming the role of General Partner. Before this, Satvat spent several years as the Business Development Director for Tencent Games, where he oversaw strategic partnerships and market expansion initiatives.
In addition to his corporate experience, he founded and runs the nonprofit Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform dedicated to helping professionals locate new opportunities within the gaming sector. "I wanted a position where the impact of my decisions could be felt directly by the teams I work with and, ultimately, by the people returning to work in the industry," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to help turn more creators' dreams of building 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 join colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I strive for. Accepting 1Up’s invitation feels like all of those aspirations are finally aligning." Satvat also praised 1Up’s unique place in the ecosystem: "1Up is a crucial player in the games investment landscape, and I’m eager to help ensure its distinctive, community‑centric approach endures 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 helped launch Housemarque in 1995 when he merged his own studio, Bloodhouse, with Harri Tikkanen’s Terramarque. The combined entity quickly became a staple of the Finnish development scene, known for its high‑octane arcade titles.
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 we eventually joined the PlayStation Studios family." He added, "We have been planning this leadership transition carefully behind the scenes. On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially stepped into the Managing Director role, and I have continued supporting him and the leadership team until today to ensure complete operational continuity and stability. Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are in exceptional hands." Tamara Feiman has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios.
Feiman’s journey at Lion began in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead, later advancing to Publishing General Manager. Her deep familiarity with the company’s culture and processes positions her well to steer its next phase of growth. "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 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." She emphasized the collaborative nature of the organization: "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 personnel updates include Heather Sangria, who has joined Sega of America as Community Manager. Sangria previously served as a contract Social Strategist and Community Lead at One More Game and held a digital‑strategy role at Undead Labs.
At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has been elevated to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise. Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a financial analyst before moving into product management and steadily climbing the ranks.
Also at Activision Blizzard, Scot McCarron has earned a promotion to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty. McCarron first arrived at Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises and later served as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty line before his latest advancement. These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, where seasoned veterans and emerging leaders alike continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment. Whether it’s guiding investment strategies at 1Up Ventures, steering a storied studio like Housemarque through a leadership handover, or driving publishing excellence at Lion Studios, each appointment reflects broader trends toward community‑focused development, strategic investment in smaller studios, and a commitment to nurturing long‑term industry relationships.
As the sector evolves, keeping track of these shifts provides valuable insight into where the next wave of innovation and opportunity may arise.