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 these periodic round‑ups, gathering the most noteworthy personnel moves in one convenient place. If you know of a colleague or a teammate who has taken on a new role or is moving on from a position, feel free to email the details—name, new title, new company, plus previous title 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 the company’s strategic partnerships and market expansion.
In addition to his corporate experience, Satvat founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative designed to help job seekers navigate the games industry and connect with opportunities. "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 turn more people's aspirations of creating games into reality. I also hoped to work in an environment that focuses on smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for indie‑scale projects and a community‑first ethos." He continued, "My ultimate wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity that I hold dear.
Accepting 1Up’s invitation feels like all those wishes are finally aligning." Satvat added, "1Up plays a crucial role in the broader games ecosystem, and I’m eager to help ensure its distinctive investment philosophy endures for as long as possible." Lasse Seppänen announced his departure from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure. He joined Supercell in 2019 as a producer and later 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 based in the UK, and I 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 served as Head of Public Affairs for TikTok in the United Kingdom, where he managed regulatory relationships and strategic communications. Jess Pearce earned a promotion to Senior People Partner at Kepler Interactive.
Pearce originally joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor and moved into the People Partner role in 2024, overseeing talent acquisition and employee development across the organization. Shreya Godha was promoted to Producer at PlaySimple Games, advancing from her prior position as Associate Producer. In her new capacity, Godha will oversee project timelines, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and drive the delivery of mobile titles. Epic Games has brought Kelly Ekins on board as Director of Communications.
Ekins previously held the Senior Director of Global PR role for Unity’s Games and Made with Unity program. Before joining Unity in 2018, she led marketing for media and entertainment at Warner Brothers Games Montreal, where she was Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications. Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and Managing Director of Housemarque, stepped down after an impressive 31‑year run.
Kuittinen co‑established Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen after merging their respective studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. Reflecting on his career, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate. We were in the right place at the right time during three decades of extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before becoming part of the PlayStation Studios family." 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 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, 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 noted. "Since then, I’ve had the privilege of growing alongside the company through its biggest successes, challenges, and transformations.
What makes Lion special is the way we collaborate 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 any 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 has 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 Digital Strategy and Community Manager role at Undead Labs. Emily Rose Chen received a promotion to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. Chen started at Activision in 2020 as a Financial Analyst, later moving into product management before earning her senior title. Scot McCarron was elevated to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty, also at Activision Blizzard.
McCarron originally joined the company in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises and later served as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty portfolio. These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the games industry, highlighting how seasoned professionals continue to shape the future of interactive entertainment through new challenges and leadership opportunities.