Video Game Tester

Testronic appoints Sonia Kerr as CEO amid executive shakeup. Sharon Baylay-Bell has moved from CEO to company chair August 14, 2026 * Kerr previously served as CFO at XR Games from 2022 to 2024. * Mike Fitzgerald has been appointed chief revenue officer. * Samantha Williams has taken on the role of chief operating officer. Games quality assurance specialist Testronic has appointed Sonia Kerr as its new chief executive officer. Kerr succeeds Sharon Baylay-Bell, who becomes company chair. Kerr most recently served as chief financial officer at XR Games from 2022 to 2024. Shaking up the leadership team, Testronic has also named Mike Fitzgerald as chief revenue officer and Samantha Williams as chief operating officer. Williams had previously served as CRO since joining Testronic in 2025. Leadership Changes The revamped executive team also includes Mike Wallen, who was named as company president earlier this year. He previously worked at Keywords Studios as chief commercial officer. "I'm delighted to be joining the company and look forward to working alongside our talented teams, our clients and our partners as we continue to innovate, grow and help deliver outstanding games to players around the world," said Kerr. "Together, we will continue empowering the next level in play and advancing on our vision to lead the world in making games incredible."

Testronic appoints new CEO and strengthens executive leadership team to further accelerate global growth. Sonia Kerr appointed Chief Executive Officer as Sharon Baylay-Bell becomes Company Chair August 13, 2026 [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press] Testronic: AUGUST 13, 2026 - LONDON, UK: Leading games Quality Assurance specialist Testronic has unveiled a strengthened executive leadership team to drive the company's next chapter of international growth, innovation and operational excellence, with Sonia Kerr appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Kerr succeeds Sharon Baylay-Bell, who moves into the role of Company Chair after leading Testronic through a period of significant transformation, including the expansion of its global Centers of Excellence, a revitalized brand identity and the development of a Player-Focused, Partner-First and Outcomes-Led strategy that has positioned the company for long-term growth. The appointments bring together proven expertise across commercial growth, operations and business transformation as Testronic continues to invest in enabling developers and publishers to deliver world-class player experiences. Joining Testronic as Chief Executive Officer, Kerr brings an impressive track record of leading high-growth digital businesses through periods of transformation and expansion. Most recently, as Chief Financial Officer at XR Games between 2022 and 2024, Kerr has built her career around helping ambitious technology businesses scale sustainably while creating high-performing, people-focused organizations. Supporting her is an industry-leading executive team comprising: * Mike Wallen - Wallen joined Testronic earlier this year and has been pivotal in driving the company's global strategy, strengthening client partnerships and business relationships across North America, Europe as well as in the Asia Pacific region. * Mike Fitzgerald - As Testronic's new Chief Revenue Officer, Fitzgerald brings more than a decade of games industry experience across QA, localization, language and art services, building trusted client partnerships and driving sustainable growth. * Samantha Williams - Williams is taking on the business-critical position of Chief Operating Officer, having previously served as Chief Revenue Officer since joining Testronic in 2025. This strategic appointment is fundamental to the company's plans of continued growth and long-term success. Together, they support the company's long-term strategy of investing in specialist expertise across its Centers of Excellence in Warsaw, Manila and New Orleans, enabling consistent, scalable and player-focused delivery for client partners across all time zones. Sharon Baylay-Bell, Company Chair at Testronic, said: "It has been an enormous privilege to lead Testronic through one of the most exciting periods in our history. Together, we have transformed the business, expanded our global capabilities, refreshed our brand and established a clear vision centered around care, expertise and delivering outstanding outcomes for our partners. "As I move into the role of Company Chair, I do so with tremendous confidence in both Sonia and the executive leadership team we have assembled. Sonia is an exceptional leader with an outstanding track record of guiding ambitious businesses through growth and transformation. I know she will build on everything we've achieved and lead Testronic into an exciting new era." Sonia Kerr, Chief Executive Officer at Testronic, added: "Testronic has built an outstanding reputation as one of the most trusted QA partners in the global games industry. What immediately stood out to me was not only the caliber of the business and its expertise, but also its culture, its people and its genuine passion for helping clients create incredible player experiences. "The games industry is evolving rapidly, creating exciting opportunities for businesses that combine technical excellence with true partnership. Testronic is perfectly positioned to lead that evolution. I'm delighted to be joining the company and look forward to working alongside our talented teams, our clients and our partners as we continue to innovate, grow and help deliver outstanding games to players around the world. Together, we will continue empowering the next level in play and advancing on our vision to lead the world in making games incredible." ENDS About Testronic Testronic is a global provider of best-in-class QA Testing and Localization services to leading clients in the video games industry worldwide. Established in 1998, Testronic employs talented testers throughout the world, providing a global test floor that encompasses its Centers of Excellence in Europe, the US and Southeast Asia. A trusted partner for leading video game developers and publishers, Testronic delivers a broad portfolio of services including Functionality QA, Compatibility QA, Compliance QA, Localization and Localization QA. Quality is at the heart of Testronic and has been since its inception more than 25 years ago. www.testroniclabs.com Daily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inbox

Game Dev Heroes finalists showcase Testronic's commitment to quality. Every great player experience is built on the expertise, curiosity and dedication of talented QA professionals who help development teams deliver quality at every stage of production. That's why Testronic group is delighted to congratulate two outstanding members of its Manila Center of Excellence, Angelo 'Pabs' Pedrano and Matthew Ocampo, on being named finalists in the 2026 Game Dev Heroes Awards. Angelo 'Pabs' Pedrano: Building High-Performing Teams As QA Manager, Angelo Pedrano - known to colleagues as Pabs - has focused on creating the environment where great teams can thrive. Like many QA professionals, Angelo was originally drawn to testing by curiosity. "I enjoyed exploring possibilities and uncovering things others might miss," he explains. "Whether it was designing test cases or exploratory testing, I loved thinking through different scenarios and understanding how users might interact with a product." Today, that curiosity has evolved into a passion for developing people: "What motivates me most now is helping people grow. Seeing individuals develop their skills, gain confidence and progress in their careers is incredibly fulfilling." Angelo also believes QA's role is often misunderstood. "A common misconception is that QA is just about testing or finding bugs," he says. "In reality, QA is about understanding the experience and helping make the product better. We don't just identify what's wrong. We provide insights into what could be improved." That broader perspective reflects the increasingly strategic role QA plays throughout modern game development. At Testronic, QA is embedded throughout production, helping studios identify issues earlier, improve collaboration across disciplines and make informed decisions that ultimately lead to better player experiences. Matthew Ocampo: Championing Players Through Quality As an Associate Test Lead, Matthew Ocampo is an integral member of its QA Team. His passion for QA began with a simple ambition: to help create better games. "I've always wanted to work in games as a way of giving back to an industry that has given me so much," he explains. "Some of my favorite memories have come from the worlds and stories I've experienced through games. It's a privilege to help ensure players create those same unforgettable memories." While test cases and defect reporting remain essential, Matthew believes one of QA's greatest contributions lies in protecting the player experience through thoughtful playtesting. "Playtesting helps identify where gameplay might feel confusing or break immersion," he says. "QA doesn't just ensure features work as intended - we help ensure players experience the game the way the development team envisioned it." That player-first mindset helps studios validate creative decisions, refine gameplay and deliver experiences that meet both design intent and player expectations. Angelo and Matthew demonstrate that exceptional QA is about far more than finding defects. It's about building high-performing teams, supporting colleagues, championing players and helping developers deliver the experiences they set out to create. Whether through leadership, mentoring, process improvement or hands-on testing, both have made a lasting impact on the projects they support and the people they work alongside. Those values sit at the heart of Testronic's approach to QA. As a Player-Focused, Partner-First, Outcomes-Led organization, Testronic group know that great games are built by exceptional people working together. Congratulations to Angelo and Matthew on their well-deserved recognition as Game Dev Heroes finalists. Their achievements demonstrate how experienced QA professionals can help developers improve efficiency, strengthen quality processes and create the player experiences that drive game success.