Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Amir Satvat joins 1Up Ventures as a general partner

Amir Satvat has moved from Tencent Games to 1Up Ventures, where he is taking on a general partner role. Satvat is best known in the industry for founding Always Supporting the Games Community, a job-finding resource that has become a major reference point for developers looking for work. His move signals a shift from community support and business development into a position that can directly shape which teams and projects get funded.

The broader September roundup is heavy on leadership and people moves across the industry. Lasse Seppänen has left Supercell after seven years and says he plans to stay in the UK and start a new studio in 2027. Housemarque co-founder and managing director Ilari Kuittinen has stepped down after 31 years, with Sami Hakala already in the managing director seat since July 1 to keep the transition smooth.

Other appointments include Giles Derrington as Take-Two Interactive’s director of global affairs UK, Kelly Ekins as Epic Games’ director of communications, and Tamara Feiman as CEO of Lion Studios. Kepler Interactive promoted Jess Pearce to senior people partner, PlaySimple Games promoted Shreya Godha to producer, Sega of America hired Heather Sangria as community manager, and Activision Blizzard elevated Emily Rose Chen and Scot McCarron within Call of Duty product management.

For developers, the practical takeaway is that the industry’s hiring and leadership churn is still active, especially around publishing, communications, people ops, and studio leadership. Satvat’s move is the most notable for the indie ecosystem: a well-known advocate...