Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, exits, and promotions in the video‑game sector can be a real challenge. That’s why we publish periodic round‑ups that gather all the notable personnel moves in one place.
If you know of any new appointments, departures, or internal shifts that belong in this list, please forward the name, new title, and 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. 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 leads Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), an initiative designed to help job seekers navigate the gaming industry and connect with potential employers. "I wanted a more direct link between the decisions I could influence and the impact I could have on a team’s ability to get people back to work," Satvat explained. "My goal is to turn more people’s aspirations of creating games into reality through my actions.
I also hoped to work in an environment that champions smaller studios, because I have a deep affection for games of that scale, and I wanted to be part of a community‑first culture." He continued, "My ultimate wish 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 wishes are coming together." Satvat added, "1Up is a crucial player in the broader games ecosystem, and I’m committed to ensuring its distinctive approach to game investing endures for as long as possible." Lasse Seppänen announced his exit from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure.
He arrived at the Finnish powerhouse in 2019 as a producer and subsequently 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 stay in the UK, and in 2027 I plan to launch my own studio again – I’ll share more details when the moment 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 oversaw regulatory engagement and policy strategy.
Jess Pearce earned a promotion to Senior People Partner at Kepler Interactive. Pearce joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor, moved to People Partner in 2024, and now leads senior‑level talent initiatives across the organization. Shreya Godha has been elevated to Producer at PlaySimple Games, after spending time as an Associate Producer with the same developer. In her new capacity, she will oversee project timelines, coordinate cross‑functional teams, and drive the delivery of new titles.
Epic Games announced the appointment of Kelly Ekins as Director of Communications. Ekins previously held the title of Senior Director of Global PR for Unity’s Games and Made with Unity program.
Before joining Unity in 2018, she led marketing for media and entertainment at Unity, and earlier served as Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications at Warner Brothers Games Montreal. Housemarque co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen is stepping down after an impressive 31‑year run at the studio. Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque in 1995 together with Harri Tikkanen, following the merger of their respective companies, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. "Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate," Kuittinen reflected.
"We were in the right place at the right time for three decades of remarkable industry growth, which allowed us to stay fiercely independent for 26 years before becoming part of the PlayStation Studios family." He added, "We have been planning this leadership transition carefully behind the scenes. On July 1, Sami ‘Haxu’ Hakala officially stepped into 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 CEO of Lion Studios, the publishing arm 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 said. "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." "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," she added.
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 has been promoted to Senior Product Manager for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. Chen originally joined the company in 2020 as a Financial Analyst, later moving into product management before earning this senior title.
Scot McCarron received a promotion to Senior Director of Product Management for Call of Duty at Activision Blizzard. McCarron first joined Activision in 2018 as a Product Marketing Manager for emerging franchises, then served as Director of Product Management on the Call of Duty franchise before stepping into his new senior director role. These announcements reflect the dynamic nature of talent movement within the gaming industry, highlighting both seasoned veterans embarking on new ventures and rising leaders taking on greater responsibilities.
The continual reshuffling of expertise helps drive innovation, ensures fresh perspectives, and sustains the sector’s rapid evolution.