Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, departures and other personnel moves in the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that gather all the noteworthy changes in one place. If you know of any recent appointments or transitions at your own studio 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 spent several years at Tencent Games where he was the Business Development Director, responsible for forging strategic partnerships and expanding the company’s portfolio. In addition to his corporate experience, Satvat founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative designed to help job‑seekers find positions within the gaming industry. "I wanted a more immediate 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 developers’ aspirations to create games become a reality because of something I contributed. I also hoped to work in an environment that champions smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for games of that scale, and in a culture that puts community first." 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 goals are finally aligning." Satvat also praised 1Up’s role in the broader ecosystem, saying, "1Up is a pivotal player in the games investment landscape, and I’m eager to help ensure its distinctive approach endures for as long as possible." After seven years at Supercell, Lasse Seppänen announced his departure.
He originally joined the Finnish powerhouse in 2019 as a producer and later moved through several senior positions, including Head of Game Production Services and General Manager of Supercell London. "It’s time for me to return to my original passion—creating new game IPs," Seppänen said. He confirmed that he will remain based in the United Kingdom and intends to launch his own studio in 2027, promising further 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 engagement. His experience in high‑profile, fast‑moving tech environments is expected to bolster Take‑Two’s strategic outreach. Kepler Interactive promoted Jess Pearce to Senior People Partner. Pearce started with Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor, advancing to People Partner in 2024, and now takes on broader responsibilities for talent strategy and employee development across the company.
PlaySimple Games elevated Shreya Godha to the role of Producer after she served as Associate Producer. In her new position, Godha will oversee project timelines, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and drive the creative vision of upcoming titles.
Epic Games announced Kelly Ekins as its new 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 that, she joined Unity in 2018 after a stint at Warner Brothers Games Montreal as Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications, giving her a deep background in both internal and external messaging for large‑scale gaming operations.
After a remarkable 31‑year tenure, Ilari Kuittinen, co‑founder and Managing Director of Housemarque, stepped down. Kuittinen co‑established the studio in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen by merging their earlier companies, Bloodhouse and Terramarque.
Reflecting on his career, he said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate. We were in the right place at the right time for three decades of extraordinary industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining 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 until today to ensure complete operational continuity and stability. Housemarque’s strategy and creative vision are in exceptional hands." Tamara Feiman has been appointed Chief Executive Officer 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," she remarked. "Since then, I’ve had the privilege of growing alongside the company through its biggest successes, challenges and transformations. What has always made Lion special is how we work with our partner studios.
Together, we’ve taken risks, learned quickly and turned great ideas into games played by millions." Feiman emphasized the collaborative nature of the organization: "Lion has never been about one person. I’m fortunate to work alongside an incredible team across publishing, growth, product, engineering and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners around the world." 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 role at Undead Labs, giving her a strong background in building and nurturing player communities.
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 this senior title.
Activision Blizzard also elevated Scot McCarron to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty. McCarron joined the firm in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises and has since progressed through the product management hierarchy.
These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, highlighting both the rise of emerging leaders and the strategic shifts of established veterans. The continued reshuffling of expertise ensures fresh perspectives and innovative approaches across development, publishing, and community engagement, ultimately shaping the games that players will experience in the years ahead.