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 movements. If you know of a recent appointment or a leadership change that belongs 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.
Prior to this, he was the Business Development Director for Tencent Games, where he oversaw partnership strategy and growth initiatives across multiple regions. Satvat also founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an organization dedicated to helping industry professionals locate new opportunities and navigate career transitions. "I wanted a role 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 game development," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to help turn more developers' aspirations into reality, especially within smaller studios that I’m passionate about.
I also sought an environment where community comes first and where colleagues share the same values and integrity that I hold dear. Joining 1Up feels like the convergence of all those ambitions." He added, "1Up is a pivotal player in the broader games ecosystem, and I’m eager to help preserve its distinctive, community‑focused investment philosophy 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 co‑established Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen, merging their earlier studios Bloodhouse and Terramarque into what would become a celebrated independent developer. Reflecting on his career, Kuittinen said, "I feel incredibly fortunate looking back.
We were in the right place at the right time during three decades of explosive industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before becoming part of the PlayStation Studios family." He continued, "The leadership transition has been meticulously planned behind the scenes. 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 now in very capable 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 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 makes Lion special is our collaborative approach with partner studios.
Together we’ve taken risks, learned quickly, and turned great ideas into games enjoyed by millions." 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 across 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 at Sega of America. Sangria previously served as a contract Social Strategist and Community Lead at One More Game, and before that she managed digital strategy and community engagement at Undead Labs. Emily Rose Chen has been elevated to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise at Activision Blizzard.
Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a financial analyst, later transitioning to product management where she contributed to several key titles before earning this promotion. Scot McCarron also received a promotion within Activision Blizzard, moving up to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty. McCarron entered Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, subsequently advancing to Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty team before assuming his new senior‑director role.
These moves reflect the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, highlighting how seasoned professionals continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment through new responsibilities and fresh perspectives.