puppeteer

Short definition from Wiktionary

Noun

1. 1
   A person who uses a puppet.
2. 2
   Someone who is manipulative and thus able to get people to do what they want or to make events develop in the way they want in a puppet-like manner.

Verb

1. 1
   To control (a puppet).
2. 2
   To control (an event, person, or organization) from behind the scenes.