Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and exits in the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that gather all the notable 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 employer, as well as the previous role and company to newhires@gamesindustry.biz. Amir Satvat has taken on the role of General Partner at 1Up Ventures. Prior to this, he was the Business Development Director at Tencent Games, where he oversaw partnership strategy and expansion initiatives.
Satvat also founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an organization that helps job‑seekers find positions across the gaming industry. "I wanted a role where the impact of my work would be more immediate and where I could collaborate closely with a team to help people get back to work," Satvat explained. "I’m passionate about turning the dreams of aspiring developers into reality, and I love supporting smaller studios that create the kind of games I enjoy.
I also wanted to be part of a culture that puts community first." He continued, "My final goal was to work alongside colleagues who share the same values and integrity I hold myself to. Accepting 1Up’s invitation feels like all those wishes are finally aligning." Satvat added, "1Up plays a crucial role in the games ecosystem, and I hope its distinctive approach to investing in developers endures for many years to come." In other news, Lasse Seppänen announced his exit from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure.
He arrived at the Finnish studio in 2019 as a producer and later served as Head of Game Production Services and General Manager of Supercell London. "It’s time for me to return to my passion for creating new IPs," Seppänen said. "I’ll stay in the UK and plan to launch my own studio in 2027 – more details when the timing is right." Take‑Two Interactive has named Giles Derrington as Director of Global Affairs for the UK.
Derrington previously led Public Affairs for TikTok in the United Kingdom, where he managed regulatory relationships and government outreach. At Kepler Interactive, Jess Pearce earned a promotion to Senior People Partner. Pearce joined Kepler as a People Advisor in 2022 and moved up to People Partner in 2024, overseeing talent acquisition and employee development.
PlaySimple Games promoted Shreya Godha to Producer after she served as Associate Producer on several of the studio’s mobile titles. Epic Games announced the appointment of 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. She began her Unity career 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.
Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen stepped down after 31 years with the studio. Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque alongside Harri Tikkanen in 1995 following the merger of their earlier companies, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate," Kuittinen reflected.
"We were in the right place at the right time for three decades of explosive industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining PlayStation Studios." He added, "We have 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 a smooth handover.
Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are in capable hands." Tamara Feiman has been appointed CEO of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios. Feiman began her career at Lion in 2020 as EMEA Business Development Lead and later served as Publishing General Manager.
"I joined Lion six years ago and have watched the company grow through its biggest wins, challenges, and transformations," Feiman said. "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." She continued, "Lion has never been about a single individual. I’m fortunate to work with an extraordinary team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as talented studio partners worldwide." Sega of America welcomed Heather Sangria 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 Manager role at Undead Labs. Activision Blizzard promoted Emily Rose Chen to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty. Chen started at the company in 2020 as a Financial Analyst, later moving into product management before earning her senior title. Scot McCarron also received a promotion at Activision Blizzard, becoming Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty.
McCarron joined the firm in 2018 as Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises and later served as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty franchise. These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming sector, where seasoned veterans shift to new challenges, rising stars climb the corporate ladder, and founders transition into advisory or entrepreneurial roles. The industry’s health depends on this continual exchange of expertise, ideas, and leadership, ensuring that both established studios and emerging indie teams have access to the experience and support they need to create the next generation of interactive entertainment.