Princeton NuEnergy Inc., a Princeton-based advanced battery materials and next-generation direct recycling firm, on Monday announced it appointed T. Joseph (Joe) Fisher, III as its new chief commercial officer (CCO). The move signals PNE’s strategic commitment to rapidly transitioning its proprietary technology from pilot operations to large-scale commercial production in the United States.
In his new role, Fisher will be responsible for driving manufacturing excellence, operational growth and scaling PNE’s closed-loop, end-to-end direct recycling process. This initiative is key to strengthening U.S. critical materials supply, bolstering energy independence, and enabling domestic Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity—crucial for meeting the demand from large data centers.
Veteran experience to lead industrialization
Fisher brings decades of significant leadership experience across the advanced battery supply chain, with a proven track record in industrializing breakthrough technologies and building resilient global supply chains.
His extensive career includes serving as CEO of Reliance Lithium Werks and co-founding Lithium Werks, a global lithium battery company. Earlier, he held leadership roles as vice president of Commercial Sales at U.S. pioneer A123 Systems, and as president and CEO of Valence Technologies and Contour Energy Systems. Fisher began his career at Energizer Holdings, where he ultimately retired as vice president and general manager of global rechargeable operations.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joe to the Princeton NuEnergy leadership team,” Chao Yan, co-founder and CEO of Princeton NuEnergy said. “As we ramp the business from pilot to full commercial scale, Joe’s expertise in industrialization and operational excellence will be invaluable to delivering reliable, high-quality production for our customers.”
Focus on operational excellence and U.S. supply chain
Fisher’s immediate focus will center on building the operational backbone necessary for sustainable growth, which includes:
- Scaling PNE’s proprietary direct recycling technology to commercial manufacturing.
- Building and optimizing cost-efficient and resilient supply chains.
- Driving process standardization, quality certification, and operational excellence.
“I’m excited to join Princeton NuEnergy at this pivotal stage,” Fisher said. “The company has a compelling value proposition, significant customer traction, and a demonstrable track record of successful laboratory and pilot-scale operations. I look forward to working with the company to build the operational backbone that will enable sustainable growth over the years to come.”
PNE, which has secured over $55 million in grants and funding from major partners including Honda Motor Co., Shell Ventures, and the U.S. Department of Energy, is currently finalizing strategic partnerships to industrialize its unique direct recycling process. The company aims to be the leading U.S.-domestic producer of cathode active materials, aligning with national priorities for energy security and supply chain resilience.
