Our Team

Jamal Burki is an accomplished technology and business leader with a proven track record of pioneering innovations in both the telecommunications and renewable energy sectors. In the 1990s, Jamal played a pivotal role at Motorola, spearheading the development and deployment of cutting-edge telecommunications technologies that transformed the nascent industry. His work ranged from software engineering to leading large-scale global rollouts, setting benchmarks for quality and rapid innovation.

Over the last decade, Jamal has been at the forefront of the battery-based energy storage revolution, holding executive leadership positions at IHI Corporation and GE Energy Storage. As President of IHI Terrasun Solutions, he drove the development of solar-plus-energy storage systems, enabling the transition to renewable energy for some of the world’s largest developers and IPPs. At GE, he led the expansion of energy storage operations from 3 to 25+ countries, delivering comprehensive projects and fostering strategic alliances globally.

Currently, as Co-Founder and CEO of Renewance Inc., Jamal is advancing the sustainable transformation of the energy and motive industries. Under his leadership, Renewance has deployed over 20 gigawatt-hours of energy storage, decommissioned over 100 megawatt-hours of systems, and delivered specialized field services and battery remanufacturing. The company's digital platform, RenewanceConnect, integrates AI technologies to optimize asset lifecycle management and regulatory compliance.

Jamal’s career is marked by his ability to blend deep technical expertise with strategic vision, driving innovation and operational excellence across diverse industries. He is passionate about creating sustainable solutions that power the global transition to renewable energy.

Commercial

Sander Jacobs is an accomplished global business leader and Co-Founder and CCO of Renewance, Inc., where he oversees the development and execution of the company's commercial strategy. With a profound passion for enabling the safe and sustainable utilization of batteries, his drive supports the societal transition to e-mobility and renewable power generation. Sander excels in providing strategic solutions to clients, ensuring they receive optimal benefits from the products and services offered.  His leadership enables Renewance to deliver services and software solutions that support the safe and sustainable management of industrial batteries throughout their lifecycle. Under Sander's guidance, Renewance has achieved remarkable growth, scaling from zero to $20 million in revenue and expanding the team to over 80 employees by 2024. He also played a pivotal role in securing Series A funding in 2024 and led the team to win the prestigious $1 million DOE Recycling Prize from 2019 to 2022.

Sander's career spans over two decades, marked by significant contributions in diverse industries, including renewable energy, transportation, and manufacturing. Before founding Renewance, he held leadership roles at global organizations such as GE, Wabtec Corporation, DSM, and Momentive Performance Materials. His expertise includes commercial strategy, global business development, new product introductions, and market expansion. At VMI Group, Sander served as Sales Director for the Tire Division, where he led cross-functional account management initiatives, achieved record-breaking order intake, and drove profitability growth.

At Wabtec Corporation, as Sr. Director of Global Sales for Marine & Stationary Power, Sander introduced innovative low-emission marine engine technology, resulting in over $120 million in orders. He also secured the largest order in the marine business's history, valued at $35 million, and captured significant market share in North America.

Sander's time at GE Energy Storage was instrumental in building an international commercial organization and driving business growth from zero to $50 million. His efforts included pioneering new markets and utilizing innovative methodologies like lean startup principles. Across his career, Sander has excelled in leading high-performing teams, fostering customer loyalty, and delivering transformative results. His passion lies in delivering service that exceeds expectations and creates mutually beneficial outcomes.

Services

Tom Newhall is a seasoned operations and field services leader with over three decades of experience in the energy industry. He has a proven track record of developing and executing strategies that drive growth, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction in both startup environments and large, established organizations.

In his role as Chief Operating Officer at Renewance, Inc., Tom brings expertise in leveraging data analytics to assess operational performance and implement improvements. He is deeply committed to advancing sustainable practices within the energy sector, aligning closely with Renewance’s mission to promote a decarbonized economy through the safe and sustainable use of battery-based applications.

Before joining Renewance, Tom held pivotal leadership positions at GE Power, including Global Operations Manager for Power Services, where he managed a $75 million budget and a global team of over 400 engineers. He also served as Global Services Leader for Energy Storage, spearheading the transition of GE’s business from battery manufacturing to energy storage system integration. During his tenure, he led numerous quality improvement initiatives, reducing backlogs by over 80%, enhancing on-time delivery, and executing cost workouts that improved as-delivered margins.

Tom’s career began at Bechtel Corporation, where he spent 17 years as a Project Engineer, managing the engineering fulfillment of power equipment projects across seven countries. His leadership was instrumental in introducing first-of-a-kind technologies and successfully delivering over 25 complex projects.

Tom holds extensive expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, having served as a Master Black Belt at GE, where he led multiple quality initiatives that achieved significant cost savings and enhanced product quality.

Based in Albany, New York, Tom is passionate about fostering collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence to meet the evolving needs of a global customer base.

Engineering

Sales

HR

Finance