TestPlant appoints three new chief officers to drive international growth

Executives will lead eggPlant developer through targeted three-year push to expand business in new vertical and global markets. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) September 20, 2012 - London UK and Boulder, CO, USA - TestPlant, the developer of robotic test tool eggPlant, has made three new C-level appointments, bringing in Antony Edwards to take the role of chief technology officer; appointing Chris Verdin the role of chief financial officer; and promoting sales director Richard Ward to the newly-created role of chief sales officer. With an established presence in the UK, the US and Asia, TestPlant has timed the appointments to coincide with its ramped up efforts to expand internationally.

Since its founding in 2008, TestPlant has achieved significant growth financially and geographically under the leadership of CEO George Mackintosh and chairman/co-founder Jon Richards. The company has received recognition from the UK Trade and Investment and has signed global partnerships with IBM and Tata Consulting Services. In 2012, TestPlant secured a US patent and was listed in the Red Herring Top 100.

Today, hundreds of the world's largest software developers and users rely upon eggPlant to reduce testing costs and to improve the quality and robustness of their systems and applications. eggPlant is a powerful test tool that creates a visual depiction of the screen to be tested, enabling intelligent 'search and compare' to signal test success or failure. A non-invasive technology, eggPlant is relied on by testers across diverse industries including defense, finance, media, mobile, security, and medical devices.

In his role as chief technology officer, Antony Edwards will direct TestPlant's future product strategy and manage technology partnerships. He will also be responsible for support functions and TestPlant's Customer Care Program. A distinguished computer engineering graduate from the University of New South Wales, his career began in software development at a start-up, moved to research at IBM in the US and then on to becoming vice president of product management at Symbian. Most recently, he held the CTO role at a major US online entertainment group.

Chris Verdin will lead financial, human resources and administrative responsibilities as chief financial officer, reporting directly to the CEO and holding a seat on the board. He received his undergraduate degree at University of Edinburgh, after which he qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG in London. He then held treasury and risk management roles in major international banks before securing a financial director's post within a technology company. He has since played pivotal roles in fund raising, MBOs, IPOs, M&A activities and patent litigation.

Richard Ward has been appointed as TestPlant's first chief sales officer, a role in which he will be a board member and report directly to the CEO. He received his graduate degree in engineering from Bath University. In 2009, he joined TestPlant and has since been promoted through the sales ranks, consistently over-achieving at every level.He spent a significant amount of time in the US directing TestPlant's expansion into defence and security industry sectors. He was appointed as sales director in early 2011 and began to build a sales team that now reaches throughout the UK, the US and Asia.

George Mackintosh, TestPlant's CEO, said: "It is time to establish a team capable of managing accelerated growth within the next three years. The demands of our enterprise customers and partners require energy and ability. We have exciting plans for eggPlant and this team will take our unique solution to global markets in defence and security, automotive, financial services and IT industries."

Jon Richards, TestPlant's co-founder and chairman of the board, said: "We need to manage organic growth and future acquisitions while staying ahead of our competitors. The enlarged team combines key existing people with new, experienced functional leaders".

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