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 changes in one convenient place.
If you know of any new appointments, role changes, or exits that belong in the next edition, please forward the person’s name, new title, new organization, 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.
Prior to this move, he was the Business Development Director for Tencent Games, where he oversaw partnership strategy and expansion initiatives. In addition to his corporate experience, Satvat founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform dedicated to helping job seekers find positions within the gaming industry. "I wanted a role where I could see a direct impact on the people I work with and actually help get them back into development jobs," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to turn more individuals' aspirations of creating games into reality through my own actions.
I also wanted to be part of an environment that supports smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for indie‑scale projects, and a culture that puts community first." He continued, "My final wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I hold myself to. By accepting 1Up’s invitation, I feel those wishes are coming true." Satvat added another point of emphasis: "1Up plays a vital role in the broader games ecosystem, and I’m committed to ensuring its distinctive investment approach endures for as long as possible." Turning to Housemarque, co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen announced his departure after an impressive 31‑year tenure. Kuittinen originally launched Housemarque in 1995 together with Harri Tikkanen, merging their earlier studios Bloodhouse and Terramarque into what would become a celebrated developer of arcade‑style titles.
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 stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining the PlayStation Studios family." He also noted the careful planning behind the leadership handover: "We have been preparing this transition behind the scenes for months. On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially stepped into 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 excellent hands." In other news, Tamara Feiman has been appointed 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 moving into the position of Publishing General Manager. Her deep familiarity with the company’s culture and processes made her a natural choice for the top spot. "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 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: "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." Sega of America has also added a new member to its community team: Heather Sangria joins as Community Manager.
Sangria’s background includes contract work as a social strategist and community lead at One More Game, as well as a stint at Undead Labs where she handled digital strategy and community management. Activision Blizzard announced two internal promotions within its Call of Duty franchise. Emily Rose Chen has been elevated to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty.
Chen originally entered the company in 2020 as a financial analyst, later transitioning to product management before earning this senior title. Similarly, Scot McCarron has moved up to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty.
McCarron joined Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, later becoming Director of Product Management for the Call of Duty line before receiving his new promotion. These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent mobility in the gaming sector, where seasoned professionals often shift between development, publishing, and investment roles, bringing fresh perspectives and reinforcing the industry’s growth. Whether it’s a veteran founder stepping aside after decades of stewardship, a community‑focused leader taking the helm of a publishing house, or analysts climbing the product ladder at a major publisher, each transition adds a new chapter to the ever‑evolving story of video‑games as both an art form and a business.
As the year progresses, we will continue to track these developments and provide a consolidated view of the most significant personnel shifts. Stay tuned for the next edition, and feel free to contribute your own updates to keep the community informed.