Keeping up with the constant flow of hires, promotions, and departures across the video‑game sector can be a daunting task. To help industry observers stay informed, we publish periodic round‑ups that capture the most noteworthy personnel moves. If you know of any recent changes at your organization—new hires, role shifts, or exits—please forward the individual's name, new title, new company, and previous position to newhires@gamesindustry.biz.
Amir Satvat has taken on the role of General Partner at 1Up Ventures. Prior to this appointment, Satvat was the Business Development Director at Tencent Games, where he oversaw partnership initiatives and strategic growth projects. He also founded and leads Always Supporting the Games Community (ASGC), a platform dedicated to connecting job seekers with opportunities throughout the gaming ecosystem.
"I wanted a role where I could see a direct link between the actions I take and the impact on a team, especially when it comes to helping people get back to work," Satvat explained. "My goal has always been to turn more developers' aspirations of creating games into reality through my contributions.
I also sought an environment that focuses on smaller studios, because I have a genuine passion for indie‑scale projects, and one that places community at its core." 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 coming together." Satvat added, "1Up plays a vital role in the broader games ecosystem, and I hope its distinctive approach to game investment endures for as long as possible." In other news, Lasse Seppänen announced his departure from Supercell after a seven‑year tenure. He joined Supercell 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 passion for creating new 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 regulatory relationships and government outreach.
Kepler Interactive promoted Jess Pearce to Senior People Partner. Pearce originally joined Kepler in 2022 as a People Advisor, advancing to People Partner in 2024 before receiving her latest promotion. PlaySimple Games elevated Shreya Godha to Producer. Godha had been an Associate Producer at the studio and now assumes full producer responsibilities for upcoming 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.
Her Unity career began in 2018 as Marketing Lead for Media and Entertainment after a stint at Warner Brothers Games Montreal, where she served as Studio Lead for Game Marketing and Communications. After 31 years at Housemarque, co‑founder and Managing Director Ilari Kuittinen stepped down. Kuittinen co‑founded Housemarque in 1995 alongside Harri Tikkanen after merging their respective studios, Bloodhouse and Terramarque. Reflecting on his career, Kuittinen said, "Looking back, I feel immensely fortunate.
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 PlayStation Studios." He added, "We have been planning 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 to ensure smooth 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 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 how we collaborate with our partner studios. Together we take risks, learn quickly, and turn great ideas into games played by millions." "Lion has never been about a single 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 worldwide," Feiman added. 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 Manager role at Undead Labs.
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 her senior title. 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, later becoming Director of Product Management for the Call of Duty franchise.
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 evolving landscape underscores the importance of community‑focused initiatives, strategic investment, and the ongoing pursuit of innovative game development across studios of all sizes.