Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures across the gaming sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that collect all the noteworthy 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 helped shape the company’s strategic partnerships and expansion initiatives.
Satvat is also the founder and driving force behind Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform 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 see more creators realize their dream of building games because of something I contributed.
I also hoped to work in an environment that focuses on smaller studios, because I’m passionate about games of that scale, and in a setting that puts community first." He added, "My final wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I strive for. By accepting 1Up’s invitation, I feel those wishes are coming true." Satvat also praised 1Up’s role in the broader ecosystem, stating, "1Up is a crucial player in the games landscape, and I want its distinctive approach to game investing to endure for as long as possible." Lasse Seppänen announced his exit from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure.
He originally joined the studio in 2019 as a producer and later held senior positions such as 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. He plans to stay in the United Kingdom and aims to launch his own studio in 2027, promising to share more details 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, where he managed the platform’s regulatory and policy engagement. At Kepler Interactive, Jess Pearce has been promoted to Senior People Partner.
Pearce first joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor and moved into the People Partner role in 2024, overseeing talent development and employee experience. Shreya Godha has advanced to Producer at PlaySimple Games, after serving as an Associate Producer with the developer.
In her new capacity, she will lead project timelines, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and help shape the studio’s upcoming 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. Her earlier experience includes a stint at Warner Brothers Games Montreal as Studio Lead for Marketing and Communications, followed by a role at Unity in 2018 as Marketing Lead for Media and Entertainment. Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen is stepping down after an impressive 31‑year career at the studio. Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen, merging their previous companies Bloodhouse and Terramarque.
Reflecting on his journey, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate. We were in the right place at the right time during three decades of remarkable industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining the PlayStation Studios family." He also noted the careful planning behind the leadership transition: "On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially assumed the Managing Director role, and I have continued supporting 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 CEO of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios. Feiman began her career at Lion in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead and later served as Publishing General Manager. "I joined Lion six years ago," she remarked. "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 played by millions. Lion has never been about one person; 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 has joined Sega of America as Community Manager. Prior to this, she 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, where she cultivated player engagement and brand loyalty.
Emily Rose Chen received a promotion to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. Chen originally joined the company as a Financial Analyst in 2020, later transitioning to Product Manager before earning her current senior title.
Scot McCarron was elevated to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron began his Activision journey in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises and later served as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty franchise before assuming his new senior leadership role. These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, highlighting both seasoned veterans stepping into new challenges and emerging leaders rising through the ranks.
The continued evolution of teams and leadership structures underscores the sector’s rapid growth and the importance of adaptable, community‑focused strategies in shaping the future of interactive entertainment.