Zhao

About Zhao

Founding Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Princeton NuEnergy, recognized by Time Magazine\'s \"America\'s Top Greentech Companies 2024 & 2025\" and \"World\'s Top Greentech Companies 2025\". Princeton NuEnergy is at the forefront of New Jersey’s clean-tech innovation, focusing on lithium-ion battery recycling and materials rejuvenation. The company has grown and raised over $56M in private capital and U.S. Department of Energy grants. Mr. Zhao oversees overall business operation across multiple functional teams and has cultivated numerous strategic partnerships with cell manufacturers and EV companies, strengthening of the domestic battery materials supply chain, reducing dependence on overseas resources while advancing circular economy and carbon neutrality goals. He was recognized as the \"2024 COO of the Year\" by the Operations Council™. Before joining Princeton NuEnergy, Mr. Zhao held a pivotal role at Panasonic Corporation of North America. As Senior Manager of Strategic Planning and the Global Program Management Department, he successfully led technology commercialization across eight verticals and managed a global team in large-scale business deployments in the U.S, Australia, China and other regions. Mr. Zhao holds a Master’s degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and has been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, and completed the Global C-Suite Program at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Member of Tsinghua Entrepreneur and Executive Club (TEEC) Lighthouse Program. Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Program Management Professional (PMP®).

Experience

1. Founding Partner, Chief Operating Officer

   Princeton Nuenergy

   Jun 2021 — Present · Princeton, NJ, US

   Princeton NuEnergy (PNE) is an advanced manufacturing leader in lithium-ion battery direct recycling, furthering America\'s circular battery economy. Founded out of Princeton University and named to Time Magazine\'s \"America\'s Top Greentech Companies 20••••26\" and \"World\'s Top Greentech Companies 2025\". PNE is revolutionizing the critical materials supply chain with its patented direct recycling technology for lithium-ion batteries. PNE\'s patented low-temperature plasma-assisted separation process (LPAS™) produces battery-grade cathode materials suitable for direct reintroduction into cell manufacturing at half the cost and a much lower environmental footprint than conventional methods. The company has received over $56 million in grants, strategic and venture funding including investments from Honda Motor Co. Ltd, LKQ Corporation, Samsung Venture, Shell Venture, Traxys Group, Wistron Corporation, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Education

• The Wharton School

  Wharton Executive Education | Global C-Suite Program

  2024 — 2025

• New Jersey Institute of Technology

  Master's degree, Engineering

Skills

• Ms Project
• Product Management
• Department Administration
• Event Planning
• Procurement
• P&L Analysis
• Process Creation
• Biotechnology
• Data Analysis
• Sales Logix
• Electronics
• Business Management Solutions
• Project Management
• Sku Management
• Management
• Tracking Solutions
• Medical Devices
• Biomechanics
• Strategic Account Managment
• Global Communications