Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures across the gaming sector can be a daunting task. To make it easier for industry professionals and enthusiasts alike, we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel changes. If you know of any recent appointments or transitions that belong 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 taken on the role of General Partner at 1Up Ventures.
Prior to this move, Satvat was the Business Development Director for Tencent Games, where he oversaw strategic partnerships and expansion initiatives. He also founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform dedicated to helping job seekers find opportunities within the gaming industry.
"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 people's dreams of creating games into reality. I was also drawn to the prospect of working with smaller studios, which I love, in an environment that puts community first." He continued, "My final wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I strive for.
Accepting 1Up's invitation feels like all those wishes are coming together." Satvat added, "1Up plays a crucial role in the broader games ecosystem, and I hope its distinctive approach to game investment endures for many years to come." Lasse Seppänen announced his exit from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure. He joined the company in 2019 as a producer and subsequently 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 remain in the UK, and in 2027 I plan to launch my own studio again—more details will follow when the moment 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.
Jess Pearce received a promotion to Senior People Partner at Kepler Interactive. Pearce initially joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor and moved up to People Partner in 2024 before earning the senior title. Shreya Godha has been elevated to Producer at PlaySimple Games, after previously serving as an Associate Producer within the same studio. Epic Games appointed Kelly Ekins as its Director of Communications.
Before joining Epic, Ekins was Senior Director of Global PR for Unity’s Games and Made with Unity program. She started at Unity in 2018 as the Marketing Lead for Media and Entertainment, following a stint at Warner Brothers Games Montreal where she acted as Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications. Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen is stepping down after 31 years with the studio.
Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque together with Harri Tikkanen in 1995, merging their earlier companies Bloodhouse and Terramarque. "Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate," Kuittinen reflected. "We were in the right place at the right time across three decades of remarkable industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining the PlayStation Studios family." "We've planned this leadership transition carefully 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 now in excellent hands." Tamara Feiman has been appointed CEO of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios. Feiman previously served as Publishing General Manager and began her career at Lion Studios in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead. "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 set Lion apart is how we collaborate with our partner studios. Together we take risks, learn quickly, and turn great ideas into games that reach millions of players." "Lion has never been about a single individual.
I’m fortunate to work with an outstanding 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. Prior to this role, Sangria worked as a contract Social Strategist and Community Lead at One More Game and held a Digital Strategy and Community Manager position at Undead Labs. Emily Rose Chen was promoted to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard.
Chen originally joined the company as a Financial Analyst in 2020 before moving into product management. Scot McCarron earned a promotion to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron previously served as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty franchise after joining Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises. These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of talent within the gaming industry, where seasoned veterans and rising stars alike continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment.