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 regularly publish concise round‑ups of the most noteworthy personnel moves. If your organization has recently added new talent or experienced a leadership shift 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. Prior to this appointment, Satvat was the business‑development director for Tencent Games, where he helped shape the publisher’s strategic growth initiatives.
In addition to his corporate experience, he founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative designed to help job seekers navigate the gaming job market and connect with potential employers. "I wanted a position where I could see a direct link between the actions I take, the team I work with, and the impact on getting people back to work," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to turn more developers' dreams of creating games into reality through my own contributions.
I also hoped to work in an environment that focuses on smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for games of that scale, and I wanted a community‑first culture." He continued, "My final wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I strive for. Accepting 1Up’s invitation fulfills all of those aspirations." Satvat added that he sees 1Up as a vital player in the broader games ecosystem, and he is committed to preserving its distinctive investment philosophy for the long term.
In a separate development, 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, following the merger of their respective 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 throughout three decades of extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to remain fiercely independent for 26 years before ultimately joining the PlayStation Studios family." He noted that the leadership transition had been carefully orchestrated 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 up to today to ensure seamless operational continuity and stability. Housemarque’s strategic direction and creative vision are now 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 as the EMEA business‑development lead, later advancing to publishing general manager. "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 set Lion apart is the way we collaborate with our partner studios. Together we’ve taken risks, learned quickly, and turned great ideas into games enjoyed by millions." She emphasized the collective nature of Lion’s achievements: "Lion has never been about a single individual.
I’m fortunate to work alongside an incredible team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners worldwide." Other notable moves include Heather Sangria’s appointment as community manager for Sega of America. Sangria previously worked as a contract social‑strategy consultant and community lead at One More Game, and she also held a digital‑strategy and community‑manager role at Undead Labs.
At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has been promoted to senior product manager for the Call of Duty franchise. Chen originally joined the company as a financial analyst in 2020 before moving into product management and climbing the ranks. Similarly, Scot McCarron has advanced to senior director of product management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard.
McCarron entered Activision in 2018 as a product‑marketing manager for emerging franchises and later served as director of product management on the Call of Duty line before earning his new senior‑director title. These appointments and promotions illustrate the dynamic nature of talent movement within the gaming industry, highlighting both the rise of seasoned veterans and the infusion of fresh perspectives across development, publishing, and community engagement functions.
The continued evolution of leadership teams underscores the sector’s rapid growth and its reliance on experienced professionals who can navigate both creative and business challenges in an increasingly competitive market.