Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures 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 one convenient place. If you know of any recent appointments or role changes that belong in this list, please forward the name of the individual, their new title and organization, as well as their previous position and employer to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has taken on the role of General Partner at 1Up Ventures.
Prior to this, Satvat was the Business Development Director for Tencent Games, where he oversaw partnership negotiations and growth initiatives. He is also the founder and driving force behind Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform dedicated to helping professionals locate employment opportunities within the gaming industry. "I wanted a role where the impact of my decisions would be felt directly by a team and, ultimately, by the people returning to work in game development," Satvat explained.
"My goal has always been to help turn more creators' visions into reality, especially within smaller studios that I’m passionate about, and to do so in an environment that prioritises community above all else." He continued, "My final ambition was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I hold dear. Accepting 1Up’s invitation feels like the perfect alignment of those aspirations." Satvat added that he sees 1Up as a crucial pillar of the broader gaming ecosystem and expressed a desire to see the firm’s distinctive investment philosophy endure for many years to come.
In another significant development, Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and former Managing Director of Housemarque, has stepped down after an impressive 31‑year tenure. Kuittinen originally launched Housemarque in 1995 together with Harri Tikkanen, following the merger of their respective studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque.
"Reflecting on the journey, I feel profoundly grateful," Kuittinen said. "We were fortunate to be positioned at the right moment during three decades of extraordinary industry expansion, 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 to guarantee seamless operational continuity. Housemarque’s strategic direction and creative vision are now in very capable hands." Tamara Feiman has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios. Feiman’s background at Lion includes a stint as Publishing General Manager, and she originally joined the company in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead.
"I first 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 has 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 that reach millions of players." She emphasized that Lion’s success is a team effort: "Lion has never been about a single individual. I’m fortunate to work with an extraordinary group spanning publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners around the globe." Additional personnel updates include Heather Sangria joining Sega of America as Community Manager. 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 been promoted to Senior Product Manager for the Call of Duty franchise at Activision Blizzard. Chen began her career at Activision in 2020 as a financial analyst before moving into product management, where she has now earned this senior title. Scot McCarron also received a promotion, advancing to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron joined the company 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 role.
These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming sector, highlighting both seasoned veterans stepping into new leadership positions and rising stars being recognised for their contributions. As studios continue to evolve and the market expands, such appointments will shape the direction of game development, publishing strategies, and community engagement for years to come.