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 capture the most noteworthy personnel moves. If you know of any changes in your organization that belong in this list—new hires, role changes, or exits—please forward the name, new position, new company, and 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 for Tencent Games, where he helped shape the company’s strategic partnerships and expansion initiatives. Satvat also founded and leads Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform dedicated to connecting talent with opportunities throughout the games industry. "I wanted a role where I could see a direct link between the decisions I make 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 the idea of working with smaller studios because I have a genuine passion for that scale of production, and I value a community‑first environment." He continued, "My final aspiration 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 coming together." Satvat added, "1Up is a pivotal player in the broader games ecosystem, and I hope its distinctive approach to game investment 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.
"Now it’s time to return to my passion for building new IPs," Seppänen said. "I’ll stay in the UK, and in 2027 I plan to launch my own studio again—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 government outreach.
Jess Pearce earned a promotion to Senior People Partner at Kepler Interactive. Pearce originally joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor and moved to the People Partner role in 2024, focusing on talent strategy and employee experience. Shreya Godha has been elevated to Producer at PlaySimple Games after serving as an Associate Producer.
In her new capacity she will oversee project timelines, cross‑functional coordination, and the delivery of mobile 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.
Prior to Unity, she led marketing for media and entertainment at Unity starting in 2018, after a stint at Warner Brothers Games Montreal as Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications. Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen stepped down after an impressive 31‑year career with the studio. Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen after merging their companies Bloodhouse and Terramarque. Reflecting on his journey, 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 let us 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 to support 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 became Publishing General Manager. "I joined Lion six years ago," Feiman 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 enjoyed by millions." She continued, "Lion has never been about a 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 management role at Undead Labs.
Emily Rose Chen was promoted to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. Chen originally joined the company as a financial analyst in 2020, later moving into product management before earning her senior title.
Scot McCarron also received a promotion, now serving as Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron entered Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, later becoming Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty franchise before his latest elevation.
These movements illustrate the dynamic nature of talent within the games industry, where seasoned veterans shift to new challenges, rising stars climb the corporate ladder, and founders transition to fresh entrepreneurial pursuits. The flow of expertise across studios, publishers, and service providers continues to shape the ecosystem, driving innovation, fostering community, and ensuring that the next generation of games benefits from a deep pool of experience and fresh perspectives.