Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and promotions in the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that gather all of the notable personnel moves in one place.
If you know of any recent appointments or transitions that belong in this list, please forward the name, new title, new 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. Before this, he was the Business Development Director at Tencent Games, where he oversaw partnership initiatives and market expansion strategies.
Satvat also founded and leads the community organization Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform dedicated to helping industry professionals locate new job opportunities. "I wanted a position where I could see a direct link between the actions I take and the impact on a team, especially when it comes to getting people back to work," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to help turn more developers' dreams of creating games into reality.
I was also eager to work in an environment that focuses on smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for games of that scale, and I value a community‑first culture." He continued, "My ultimate wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I strive for. Accepting 1Up’s invitation feels like all those wishes are finally coming together." Satvat added, "1Up plays a crucial role in the broader games ecosystem, and I am committed to ensuring its distinctive approach to game investment endures for as long as possible." Lasse Seppänen announced his departure from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure. He joined the company in 2019 as a producer and later held several senior positions, including Head of Game Production Services and General Manager of Supercell London.
"It’s time for me to return to my passion for creating new game IPs," Seppänen said. "I’ll stay in the UK, and in 2027 I plan to launch my own studio again – I’ll share more details when the timing is right." Take‑Two Interactive has named Giles Derrington as Director of Global Affairs for the UK. Derrington previously served as Head of Public Affairs for TikTok in the United Kingdom, where he managed regulatory relationships and media strategy.
Jess Pearce received a promotion to Senior People Partner at Kepler Interactive. Pearce originally joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor and moved into the People Partner role in 2024, focusing on talent acquisition and employee development. Shreya Godha was promoted to Producer at PlaySimple Games after serving as an Associate Producer.
In her new capacity, she will oversee project timelines, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and drive the delivery of new titles. Epic Games appointed Kelly Ekins as Director of Communications.
Ekins comes from Unity, where she was Senior Director of Global PR for the Games and Made with Unity program. Prior to that, she joined Unity in 2018 as Marketing Lead for Media and Entertainment after a stint at Warner Brothers Games Montreal as Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications. Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and Managing Director of Housemarque, stepped down after a remarkable 31‑year career at the studio. Kuittinen co‑established Housemarque with Harri Tikkanen in 1995 following the merger of their companies, Bloodhouse and Terramarque.
"Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate," Kuittinen reflected. "We were in the right place at the right time throughout three decades of explosive industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining the PlayStation Studios family." He added, "We have carefully planned this leadership transition behind the scenes. On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially assumed the Managing Director role, and I have continued to support him and the leadership team to ensure seamless operational continuity. Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are in excellent hands." Tamara Feiman has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios.
Feiman began her career at Lion Studios in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead and later served as 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 makes Lion special is our collaborative approach with partner studios. Together we take risks, learn quickly, and turn great ideas into games enjoyed by millions." "Lion has never been about any single individual. I’m fortunate to work with an extraordinary team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners worldwide," she added.
Heather Sangria has joined 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 was promoted to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard.
Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a Financial Analyst before moving into product management. Scot McCarron earned a promotion to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron started at Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises and later served as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty franchise. These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, highlighting both the emergence of new leadership and the continuation of seasoned professionals shaping the future of interactive entertainment.