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 publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel movements across the industry. If you know of a recent appointment or a transition that belongs in one of these updates, please forward the individual’s name, new title, new organization, as well as their previous role and employer to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has officially joined 1Up Ventures as a General Partner.
Prior to this, Satvat spent several years at Tencent Games where he was responsible for business development initiatives, shaping partnership strategies, and driving growth in key markets. In addition to his corporate experience, he founded and leads the Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative designed to help professionals locate new opportunities within the gaming sector.
"I wanted a role where the impact of my decisions could be felt directly by the people I work with and where I could help get talent back into development jobs," Satvat explained. "I’m passionate about turning the dreams of aspiring developers into reality, and I felt that a smaller‑studio‑focused environment would let me do that most effectively. I also value a community‑first culture and wanted to align myself with colleagues who share the same standards of integrity and purpose. Accepting the invitation from 1Up feels like all those aspirations are finally aligning." He added, "1Up plays a crucial role in the broader games ecosystem, and I’m eager to support its distinctive approach to investing in independent studios 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 originally launched Housemarque in 1995 together with Harri Tikkanen, merging their earlier studios Bloodhouse and Terramarque into what would become a celebrated developer of high‑octane action titles. Reflecting on his career, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate. We were in the right place at the right time across 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 continued, "We have been planning this leadership transition behind the scenes for some time. 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 in excellent hands." Tamara Feiman has been promoted to 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 and later advanced to 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. What makes Lion special is our collaborative relationship with partner studios. Together we take risks, learn quickly, and turn great ideas into games that reach millions of players." She emphasized the collective nature of the organization: "Lion has never been about any single individual.
I’m fortunate to work with an extraordinary team spanning publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners worldwide." Additional personnel updates include Heather Sangria’s appointment as Community Manager for Sega of America. 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 audience engagement and brand building. 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, later transitioning to product management where she has contributed to several key releases and feature initiatives. Similarly, Scot McCarron has earned a promotion to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty.
McCarron entered Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, later moving into product management and now overseeing a larger portfolio of responsibilities within the flagship series. These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, highlighting both the emergence of new leadership and the recognition of long‑standing contributors who continue to shape some of the most popular titles and studios worldwide.