Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures in the video‑game sector can be a daunting task, which is why we publish periodic round‑ups that gather all the notable moves in one place. If you know of any recent appointments or transitions at your studio that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, new company, 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.
Before this, he was the Business Development Director for Tencent Games, where he oversaw partnership strategy and growth initiatives across multiple titles. In addition to his corporate experience, Satvat founded and leads Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative dedicated to helping job seekers find positions within the gaming industry.
"I wanted a more direct link between the actions I could take and the impact on a team, especially when it comes to getting people back to work," Satvat explained. "I wanted to help turn more developers' dreams of creating games into reality through my own contributions. I also hoped to operate in an environment that focuses on smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for games of that scale, and I wanted to be part of a community‑first culture." He continued, "My ultimate goal was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I strive for. Accepting the invitation to join 1Up feels like all those aspirations are finally coming together." Satvat added, "1Up is a crucial player in the broader games ecosystem, and I want to see its distinctive approach to game investing endure for as long as possible." Lasse Seppänen announced his departure from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure.
He entered the company in 2019 as a producer and later held senior positions, including Head of Game Production Services and General Manager of Supercell London. "Now it’s time 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 government outreach. Jess Pearce earned a promotion to Senior People Partner at Kepler Interactive.
Pearce first joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor, progressed to People Partner in 2024, and now oversees senior talent strategies across the organization. Shreya Godha has been elevated to Producer at PlaySimple Games after previously serving as an Associate Producer. In her new capacity, Godha will lead development teams and coordinate cross‑functional efforts to bring mobile titles to market. 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 Unity, she spent time at Warner Brothers Games Montreal as Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications, and began her career at Unity in 2018 as Marketing Lead for Media and Entertainment. Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen stepped down after an impressive 31‑year run at the studio. Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque with Harri Tikkanen in 1995 after merging their respective firms, 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 industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining the PlayStation Studios family." He explained the transition plan: "We have been preparing this leadership change behind the scenes for some time.
On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially assumed the Managing Director role, and I have continued to support him and the leadership team until today to guarantee operational continuity and stability. Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are 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 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 always makes Lion special is how we collaborate with our partner studios. Together we take risks, learn quickly, and turn great ideas into games played by millions." She added, "Lion has never been about a single individual.
I’m fortunate to work with an incredible team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners worldwide." Heather Sangria 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 role as Digital Strategy and Community Manager at Undead Labs, where she cultivated player engagement and brand loyalty.
Emily Rose Chen has been promoted to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a Financial Analyst, later moving into product management before earning her current senior title. Scot McCarron also received a promotion at Activision Blizzard, advancing to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty. McCarron first arrived at Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, later serving as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty franchise before his latest elevation.
These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of the games industry, where talent circulates between development studios, publishers, and service providers, constantly reshaping the ecosystem. Whether it is a veteran like Kuittinen stepping aside after three decades, a rising star such as Feiman taking the helm of a publishing operation, or specialists like Satvat and Derrington shifting to venture and public‑affairs roles, each transition adds a new layer to the ever‑evolving narrative of how games are created, funded, and brought to players worldwide.