Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, departures, and promotions in the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that gather all the noteworthy moves in one place. If you know of any recent staff changes—new appointments, role transitions, or exits—please forward the details (name, new title, new company, previous title, and previous 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 growth strategy across multiple markets.
Satvat also founded and runs Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative dedicated to helping 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.
"My goal has always been to turn more developers' dreams of creating games into reality through my own contributions. I was also drawn to the idea of working with smaller studios because I have a deep affection for games of that scale, and I value a community‑first environment." He continued, "My ultimate 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 exit from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure.
He joined the Finnish powerhouse in 2019 as a producer and later held senior positions such as 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. "I will stay in the UK, and in 2027 I plan to launch my own studio again—more details will follow 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 the platform’s regulatory and governmental relationships.
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, supporting the company’s talent strategy and employee experience. Shreya Godha has been elevated to Producer at PlaySimple Games after previously holding the Associate Producer title at the same studio.
Her expanded responsibilities now include overseeing larger project scopes and coordinating cross‑functional teams. Epic Games appointed 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.
Before joining Unity in 2018, she led marketing for Warner Brothers Games Montreal, overseeing studio‑level marketing and communications. Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen stepped down after an impressive 31‑year run.
Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen after merging their earlier studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate," Kuittinen reflected. "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 becoming part of PlayStation Studios." He added, "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 seamless operational continuity. Housemarque’s strategic vision and creative direction 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," 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 our collaborative approach with 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 extraordinary team across publishing, growth, product, engineering, and market intelligence, as well as our talented studio partners worldwide," she added.
Heather Sangria has joined Sega of America as Community Manager. Prior to this role, she worked as a contract Social Strategist and Community Lead at One More Game and held a digital strategy and community management position at Undead Labs. Emily Rose Chen received a promotion to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard.
Chen began her Activision career in 2020 as a Financial Analyst, later moving into product management before assuming her current senior role. Scot McCarron was promoted to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron originally joined Activision 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 his latest promotion.
These moves illustrate the dynamic nature of talent flow within the gaming industry, highlighting both seasoned veterans taking on new challenges and rising stars stepping into greater responsibilities. The sector continues to evolve rapidly, and the individuals highlighted here are poised to shape its future in meaningful ways.