Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and promotions in the video‑game sector can be a daunting task, which is why we gather the most noteworthy moves into periodic round‑ups. If you know of a recent appointment or transition that belongs in this list, please forward the individual’s name, new title, new organization, as well as their previous role and employer to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has officially joined 1Up Ventures as its new general partner.
Prior to this, Satvat spent several years at Tencent Games where he held the position of Business Development Director, overseeing partnership initiatives and market expansion strategies. In addition to his corporate experience, Satvat founded and continues to lead the Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative dedicated to helping professionals locate employment opportunities within the gaming industry. "I wanted a role where I could see a direct line between my actions and the impact on a team, and where I could help people get back to work," Satvat explained.
"I’m passionate about turning the dreams of aspiring developers into reality, especially for smaller studios that I love so much. I also wanted to be part of an environment that puts community first." He continued, "My final goal was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I strive for.
Accepting 1Up’s invitation feels like all of those aspirations are finally aligning." Satvat also praised 1Up’s position in the broader ecosystem, stating, "1Up is a pivotal player in the games investment landscape, and I hope its distinctive, community‑centric approach endures for years to come." In other news, Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and former Managing Director of Housemarque, has stepped down after an impressive 31‑year tenure. Kuittinen co‑established Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen after merging their respective studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque.
The studio grew from a modest indie outfit into a celebrated developer known for titles such as "Resogun" and "Returnal." Reflecting on his career, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate. We were in the right place at the right time during three decades of extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining the PlayStation Studios family." He added, "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." Tamara Feiman has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios.
Feiman’s journey at Lion began in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead, later advancing to Publishing General Manager. Over the past six years she has witnessed—and helped shape—the company’s most significant successes, challenges, and strategic pivots. "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 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 organization, saying, "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 has taken on the role of Community Manager at Sega of America. Sangria previously operated as a contract Social Strategist and Community Lead for One More Game and held a digital strategy position at Undead Labs, where she managed community engagement for titles such as "State of Decay." At Activision Blizzard, Emily Rose Chen has been elevated to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise.
Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a financial analyst before moving into product management, where she contributed to the launch of several major updates and live‑service initiatives. Similarly, Scot McCarron has earned a promotion to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty.
McCarron entered Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, later advancing to Director of Product Management for Call of Duty, where he oversaw roadmap planning, feature prioritization, and cross‑functional collaboration across development, publishing, and community teams. These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming sector, highlighting both seasoned veterans transitioning to new leadership roles and rising stars climbing the corporate ladder. As studios continue to expand, merge, and explore new business models, the demand for experienced professionals who can bridge creative vision with commercial execution remains high.
The industry’s health depends not only on innovative games but also on the people who steer studios, nurture communities, and secure the financial foundations that make ambitious projects possible. If you have further announcements or wish to correct any details, please reach out to the editorial team at newhires@gamesindustry.biz.
The round‑up will be updated regularly to reflect the latest developments across development houses, publishers, and support organizations worldwide.