Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and promotions across the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel moves in the industry.
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 they’re joining, as well as their previous role and employer to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has taken on the role of General Partner at 1Up Ventures. Before this, Satvat was the Business Development Director for Tencent Games, where he oversaw strategic partnerships and expansion initiatives. He also founded and currently leads the Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an organization dedicated to helping job‑seekers find positions within the gaming field.
"I wanted a role where the impact of my decisions would be felt directly by a team, and where I could help get people back to work on the projects they love," Satvat explained. "I’m passionate about turning the dreams of aspiring developers into reality, and I felt that a smaller‑studio‑focused environment would let me do that most effectively. I also value a community‑first culture, and I hoped to find colleagues who share the same standards of integrity that I hold myself to. Accepting 1Up’s invitation checks all those boxes." He added, "1Up plays a crucial role in the gaming ecosystem, and I’m eager to help preserve its distinctive 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, following the merger of their previous studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. 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 extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before eventually joining the PlayStation Studios family." He continued, "The leadership transition has been carefully planned 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.
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.
"I joined Lion six years ago," Feiman remarked. "Since then I’ve had the privilege of growing alongside the company through its biggest triumphs, toughest challenges, and major transformations. What always set Lion apart is our collaborative approach with partner studios.
Together we’ve taken bold risks, learned quickly, and turned great concepts into games enjoyed by millions." She emphasized, "Lion has never been about a single individual. I’m fortunate to work with an outstanding team spanning publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners worldwide." Additional personnel updates include Heather Sangria, who has been appointed Community Manager for Sega of America. Sangria previously worked as a contract Social Strategist and Community Lead at One More Game and held a digital strategy and community management role at Undead Labs. Emily Rose Chen has earned a promotion to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise at Activision Blizzard.
Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a financial analyst before moving into product management. Scot McCarron has also advanced, becoming 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. These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, where seasoned veterans and rising stars alike continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment.
The appointments reflect a broader trend toward community‑centric leadership, strategic investment in smaller studios, and a continued emphasis on nurturing creative talent across all levels of development and publishing.