Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and role changes across the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. To make it easier for readers, we regularly gather these personnel movements into concise round‑ups. If you know of any recent appointments or transitions that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, new organization, 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.
Before this move, Satvat was the business development director for Tencent Games, where he helped shape the company's strategic partnerships and market expansion. In addition to his corporate experience, Satvat founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative dedicated to connecting job seekers with opportunities throughout the gaming industry. "I wanted a role where I could see a more immediate impact on both the teams I work with and the people I help place back into the industry," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to turn more developers' aspirations of creating games into reality, and I felt that a smaller‑studio‑focused environment would let me do that.
I also wanted to be part of an organization that puts community first." He continued, "My final wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I hold dear. Accepting the invitation to join 1Up feels like those wishes are finally coming together." Satvat added another point of pride: "1Up plays a crucial role in the broader games ecosystem, and I am eager to help preserve its distinctive approach to investing in games 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 originally co‑founded Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen, merging their earlier studios Bloodhouse and Terramarque into what would become a celebrated developer of high‑octane titles.
"Reflecting on the past three decades, I feel incredibly fortunate," Kuittinen said. "We were in the right place at the right time during three periods of massive industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before ultimately joining the PlayStation Studios family." He also noted that the leadership handover was carefully orchestrated behind the scenes. "On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially assumed the managing director position.
I have continued to support him and the rest of the leadership team up to today to ensure seamless operational continuity and stability. Housemarque’s strategic direction and creative vision are now in excellent hands." In another significant appointment, 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 as the EMEA business development lead, later advancing to publishing general manager. Her deep familiarity with the company’s culture and processes positioned her as a natural successor.
"I joined Lion six years ago," Feiman reflected. "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 relationship with partner studios. Together we’ve taken risks, learned quickly, and turned great ideas into games that millions enjoy." She emphasized the collective nature of Lion’s achievements: "Lion has never been about a single individual.
I’m fortunate to work with an extraordinary team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners around the world." Additional personnel moves include Heather Sangria, who has joined Sega of America as community manager. Sangria brings experience from her previous roles as a contract social strategist and community lead at One More Game, as well as a stint at Undead Labs where she handled digital strategy and community management.
At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has earned a promotion to senior product manager for the Call of Duty franchise. Chen originally entered the company in 2020 as a financial analyst, later transitioning to product management before ascending to her new senior role.
Similarly, Scot McCarron has been elevated to senior director of product management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron joined the firm in 2018 as a product marketing manager for emerging franchises and has since risen through the ranks to oversee product strategy for one of the industry's flagship series. These updates illustrate the dynamic nature of talent movement within the gaming world, highlighting both seasoned veterans stepping into new leadership positions and rising stars earning well‑deserved promotions. The industry continues to evolve rapidly, and the people driving that evolution are just as vital as the games themselves.