Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures across the gaming sector can be a daunting task. That’s why we put together periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy moves. If you know of any personnel changes that belong in this list, please forward the name, new title, new organization, 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. Prior to this, he was the Business Development Director at Tencent Games, where he helped shape strategic partnerships and growth initiatives.
Satvat also 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 line between my actions and the impact on a team, especially when it comes to getting people back to work," Satvat explained. "I’ve always wanted to help turn more people’s dreams of creating games into reality. I also hoped to work in an environment that focuses on smaller studios, because I’m passionate about games of that scale and love a community‑first culture." He continued, "My ultimate goal was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I hold dear.
Accepting 1Up’s invitation feels like all those aspirations are finally aligning." Satvat added, "1Up plays a crucial role in the gaming ecosystem, and I’m eager to ensure its distinctive investment approach endures for as long as possible." Lasse Seppänen announced his departure from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure. He joined the firm in 2019 as a producer and later held senior positions, including Head of Game Production Services and General Manager for 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 appointed Giles Derrington as Director of Global Affairs for the UK. Derrington previously served as Head of Public Affairs for TikTok UK, where he managed government relations and policy strategy.
Jess Pearce received a promotion to Senior People Partner at Kepler Interactive. Pearce initially joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor and advanced to People Partner in 2024.
Shreya Godha was promoted to Producer at PlaySimple Games, moving up from her previous role as Associate Producer. Epic Games named 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. Before Unity, she led marketing for media and entertainment at the company, and prior to that she was Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications at Warner Brothers Games Montreal.
Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen stepped down after 31 years with the studio. Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen, after merging their respective companies, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. "Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate," Kuittinen reflected.
"We were in the right place at the right time for three decades of remarkable industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining the PlayStation Studios family." "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 smooth operational continuity. Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are in excellent hands." Tamara Feiman has been appointed CEO of Lion Studios, a division 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 makes Lion special is how we collaborate with our partner studios. Together we take risks, learn quickly, and turn great ideas into games enjoyed by millions." "Lion has never been about a single individual.
I’m fortunate to work with an amazing team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners worldwide." Heather Sangria has joined Sega of America as Community Manager. She 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 began her career at Activision as a financial analyst in 2020, later moving into product management before earning this senior title. 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, having joined Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises.
These appointments, promotions, and departures illustrate the dynamic nature of talent movement within the gaming industry, highlighting both the emergence of new leadership and the continued evolution of established studios and publishers. The industry remains vibrant, with professionals seeking roles that align with their passions, values, and the desire to influence the next generation of games.