Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures in the video‑game sector can be a daunting task, which is why we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel movements. If you know of a recent appointment or a leadership change that belongs in this list, please forward the name of the individual, the new title, the company, as well as the previous role and employer to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has taken on the role of general partner at 1Up Ventures. Before joining the venture‑capital firm, Satvat worked as the business development director for Tencent Games, where he helped shape the publisher’s global expansion strategy.
He is also the founder and driving force behind Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative that connects job‑seekers with opportunities throughout the industry. "I wanted a more direct link between the actions I could take and the impact on a team, especially when it comes to getting people back to work," Satvat explained. "My goal is to help turn more developers' dreams of creating games into reality, and I felt that a smaller‑studio‑focused environment would let me do that while staying true to a community‑first philosophy." He continued, "My ultimate wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I hold dear.
Accepting the invitation to join 1Up feels like those wishes are finally being realized." Satvat also praised 1Up’s role in the broader ecosystem, stating, "1Up is a pivotal player in the games investment landscape, and I hope its distinctive approach to backing studios endures for many years to come." In other news, Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and managing director of Housemarque, has stepped down 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 his career, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate.
We were in the right place at the right time for three decades of extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before ultimately joining the PlayStation Studios family." He added that the leadership transition had been carefully orchestrated behind the scenes. "On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially assumed the managing director position, and 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 excellent hands," Kuittinen affirmed. Tamara Feiman has been promoted to chief executive officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios.
Feiman began her career at Lion in 2020 as the EMEA business development lead and later served as publishing general manager. "I joined Lion six years ago," she recalled. "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 approach with partner studios.
Together we’ve taken risks, learned quickly, and turned great ideas into games that reach millions of players." Feiman emphasized that Lion’s achievements are a team effort: "Lion has never been about any single individual. I’m fortunate to work with an incredible group across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners worldwide." Additional moves include Heather Sangria joining Sega of America as community manager. Sangria previously operated as a contract social strategist and community lead at One More Game and held a digital strategy and community manager role at Undead Labs.
At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has been elevated to senior product manager for the Call of Duty franchise. Chen entered the company as a financial analyst in 2020, later transitioning to product management before earning this senior title.
Similarly, Scot McCarron has been promoted 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 and subsequently served as director of product management on the Call of Duty series before receiving his new promotion. These appointments and promotions underscore the dynamic nature of talent movement within the gaming sector, highlighting both the continued growth of established studios and the emergence of new leaders dedicated to fostering innovative experiences for players worldwide.