Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and promotions across the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. To make it easier for industry professionals and observers alike, we regularly compile these movements into concise round‑ups.
If you know of any recent appointments or transitions at your organization that belong in this list, please forward the individual's name, new title, new company, as well as their previous position 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 oversaw partnership strategy and expansion initiatives.
Satvat also founded and leads the community‑focused platform Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), which connects job‑seekers with opportunities throughout the gaming ecosystem. "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. "My goal has always been to help turn more developers' dreams of creating games into reality.
I was also drawn to a setting that champions smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for indie‑scale projects, and to an environment that puts community first." He continued, "My final wish was to collaborate with colleagues who share the same values and integrity I strive for. 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 hope its distinctive approach to investing in games endures for many years to come." Lasse Seppänen announced his departure from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure. He joined Supercell in 2019 as a producer and subsequently held several 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 remain based in the UK, and I plan to launch my own studio in 2027 – 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 market. Derrington previously served as Head of Public Affairs for TikTok in the United Kingdom, where he managed regulatory relationships and corporate communications. Jess Pearce earned a promotion to Senior People Partner at Kepler Interactive. Pearce first joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor and advanced to People Partner in 2024, overseeing talent strategy and employee development across the organization.
Shreya Godha has been elevated to Producer at PlaySimple Games after serving as an Associate Producer. In her new capacity, Godha will lead production pipelines and coordinate cross‑functional teams to deliver mobile titles. Epic Games appointed Kelly Ekins as Director of Communications.
Ekins previously held the Senior Director of Global PR role for Unity’s Games and Made with Unity program. She entered Unity in 2018 after a stint at Warner Brothers Games Montreal, where she acted as Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications. Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen stepped down after 31 years of service. Kuittinen co‑founded the studio with Harri Tikkanen in 1995 following the merger of their respective companies, Bloodhouse and Terramarque.
"Reflecting on three decades, I feel incredibly fortunate," Kuittinen remarked. "We were in the right place at the right time throughout a period of massive industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before joining the PlayStation Studios family." "We have planned this leadership transition meticulously 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 guarantee smooth operational continuity. Housemarque’s strategic direction and creative vision are in excellent hands." Tamara Feiman has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lion Studios, the publishing arm of Tripledot Studios.
Feiman began her career at Lion Studios in 2020 as the EMEA Business Development Lead and later became Publishing General Manager. "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 the way we collaborate with partner studios—taking risks, learning quickly, and turning great ideas into games enjoyed by millions." "Lion has never been about a single individual. I’m fortunate to work with an outstanding 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 management role at Undead Labs. Emily Rose Chen received a promotion to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a Financial Analyst before moving into product management. Scot McCarron was promoted to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard.
McCarron has been with Activision since 2018, initially serving as Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises before advancing to Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty portfolio. These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, highlighting both the emergence of new leadership and the continuation of seasoned professionals in pivotal roles. The ongoing evolution of studios, publishers, and investment firms underscores the sector’s resilience and its capacity for innovation as it navigates the challenges and opportunities of the coming years.