Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and role changes across the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel movements in one convenient place.
If you know of any recent appointments or transitions that belong in this list, please forward the name, new title, company, and previous position to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has taken on the role of General Partner at 1Up Ventures. Before joining the firm, Satvat spent several years as Business Development Director at Tencent Games, where he helped shape the company’s strategic partnerships and expansion efforts. In addition to his corporate experience, Satvat founded and leads Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative dedicated to connecting talent with job opportunities throughout the gaming ecosystem.
"I wanted a role where the impact of my decisions would be felt directly by the teams I work with and, ultimately, by the people returning to work in game development," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to help turn more developers' dreams of creating games into reality. I also wanted to focus on smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for indie‑scale projects, and to operate within a community‑first environment." He added, "My final aspiration was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I strive for.
Accepting the invitation to join 1Up feels like a perfect alignment of those wishes." Satvat also praised 1Up’s position in the industry, saying, "1Up is a critical player in the games ecosystem, and I hope its distinctive approach to investing in games 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 alongside Harri Tikkanen, merging their earlier studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque, into the company that would later become a staple of the Finnish game development scene. Reflecting on his career, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate.
We were in the right place at the right time during three decades of massive 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 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." Meanwhile, Tamara Feiman has been appointed 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, later moving into the role of Publishing General Manager. Her deep familiarity with the company’s culture and operations positioned her as a natural successor.
"I joined Lion six years ago," Feiman said. "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 business: "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 appointments include Heather Sangria, who joins Sega of America as Community Manager. Sangria previously acted as a contract social strategist and community lead at One More Game, and she also held a digital strategy and community management role at Undead Labs, giving her a strong background in building and nurturing gaming communities.
At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has been promoted to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise. Chen entered the company in 2020 as a financial analyst, later moving into product management where she contributed to several key titles before earning this senior position. Also at Activision Blizzard, Scot McCarron has advanced to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty.
McCarron joined the company in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises and has since risen through the ranks, most recently serving as Director of Product Management on the flagship Call of Duty series. These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of talent within the gaming industry, where experience in both development and publishing, as well as community engagement, continues to shape the future of interactive entertainment.