XL Batteries Strengthens Executive Team with Strategic Hires to Propel Commercial-Scale Growth of Revolutionary Grid-Scale Battery
In a major step toward its mission of transforming the future of grid-scale energy storage, XL Batteries—a next-generation energy storage company developing safe, cost-effective, and dependable battery technology—has announced the appointment of three senior executives to its leadership team. These strategic hires, in the areas of engineering, manufacturing, and finance, come at a critical inflection point as the company shifts from successful pilot deployment to the next stage of commercial-scale operations.
Each of the newly appointed executives brings decades of experience and a proven track record in scaling innovative technologies across various sectors, including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and industrial finance. Their combined leadership is expected to play a pivotal role in guiding XL Batteries as it accelerates toward market readiness.
This announcement follows the recent successful commissioning of XL Batteries’ Organic Flow Battery™, a groundbreaking energy storage solution designed for large-scale grid applications. The battery was deployed through a paid pilot project with Stolthaven Terminals, a globally recognized leader in storage and handling services for bulk liquids and gases. This pilot marked not only a significant milestone for XL Batteries but also represented a broader leap forward in the commercialization of safer and more cost-efficient alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
A Transformational Moment for Energy Storage
XL Batteries is pioneering a proprietary Organic Flow Battery™ that offers a safer and more scalable alternative to conventional energy storage technologies. This innovation is designed to address critical challenges in the energy transition, including the intermittency of renewable energy sources and the rising demand for long-duration, grid-connected storage.
The successful pilot with Stolthaven Terminals demonstrated the real-world viability of XL Batteries’ technology. According to company executives, the pilot validated key performance benchmarks for safety, durability, and operational efficiency. With these results in hand, the company is now preparing to work with select industry partners to demonstrate its readiness for full commercial-scale deployment.
“This is a transformative time for XL Batteries and for the broader energy storage sector,” said Tom Sisto, CEO and co-founder of XL Batteries. “We have proven that our technology works in a real-world, industrial environment. Now, the focus shifts to scale. That’s why we are thrilled to welcome three exceptional leaders to our executive team. Each of them brings unparalleled expertise in building and scaling industrial technologies—and together, they will help us take this company to the next level.”
New Executive Hires to Lead Key Growth Functions
The new executive appointments include Meryl Mallery as Executive Vice President of Engineering, Seqwana T Pryor, Ph.D., as Executive Vice President of Chemical Manufacturing, and Michael Rubino as Chief Financial Officer. Each of these leaders will head critical departments essential to XL Batteries’ next phase of development and commercialization.
Meryl Mallery – Executive Vice President of Engineering
With more than 35 years of engineering and technical leadership experience, Meryl Mallery will oversee all aspects of XL Batteries’ engineering operations. Her primary focus will be on scaling the design and development of the company’s energy storage systems from pilot to commercial production.
Prior to joining XL Batteries, Mallery served as Vice President of Engineering at Plug Power, a global leader in hydrogen fuel cell systems. In that role, she directed the design, development, and certification of large-scale electrolyzer systems used in green hydrogen production. Her experience at Plug Power—along with her earlier roles in aerospace and defense engineering—make her uniquely qualified to lead the complex, interdisciplinary teams required to bring XL Batteries’ technology to market.
Mallery is known for her strategic leadership and her ability to manage cross-functional engineering teams that deliver high-performance technologies under demanding timelines. Her appointment signals XL Batteries’ commitment to rigorous engineering excellence as it prepares to expand production and integrate its systems into utility-scale energy infrastructure.
Seqwana T Pryor, Ph.D. – Executive Vice President of Chemical Manufacturing
Dr. Seqwana Pryor brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in advanced manufacturing and process chemistry. She will lead the scaling of XL Batteries’ proprietary chemical production processes, ensuring that the company’s organic electrolyte formulations can be manufactured at industrial volumes with high consistency and quality.
Before joining XL Batteries, Dr. Pryor served as Global Manufacturing Technology Leader for DuPont’s Electronics & Industrial business. In that role, she was responsible for process innovation and global technology deployment in one of the world’s most sophisticated materials companies. Her earlier roles included leadership positions in specialty chemicals and semiconductor materials, giving her a deep understanding of the intersection between chemistry, manufacturing, and market dynamics.
Dr. Pryor holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and is widely respected for her ability to develop scalable manufacturing systems that meet stringent performance and regulatory standards. Her work at XL Batteries will be central to ensuring that the company can meet the growing demand for safe, sustainable energy storage without compromising on quality or environmental responsibility.
Michael Rubino – Chief Financial Officer
Michael Rubino joins XL Batteries as Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than 25 years of experience in financial strategy, operations, and capital markets. Rubino’s role will include overseeing the company’s financial planning and analysis, fundraising strategy, investor relations, and long-term capital deployment.
Rubino’s background spans a wide range of high-growth technology firms, from early-stage startups to publicly traded companies. He has successfully guided three companies through the IPO process and has raised hundreds of millions of dollars from both private investors and public markets. His understanding of global finance and ability to align financial operations with strategic business objectives make him a vital addition to the leadership team as XL Batteries scales operations and engages with institutional partners.
Rubino is particularly skilled at structuring financial models that support manufacturing expansion and product commercialization. His appointment suggests that XL Batteries is preparing for significant growth, potentially including strategic partnerships, additional pilot deployments, and future rounds of capital investment.
Poised for Impactful Growth
The new executive hires underscore XL Batteries’ readiness to meet the challenges of scaling up a game-changing energy technology. With a growing global emphasis on decarbonization, long-duration energy storage has emerged as a critical enabling technology for renewable power integration, grid resiliency, and energy security.
XL Batteries’ Organic Flow Battery™ is designed to outperform conventional batteries in key areas such as fire safety, longevity, and environmental impact. Unlike lithium-ion systems, the company’s battery chemistry is based on non-toxic, non-flammable organic compounds, which significantly reduces operational risks and life-cycle costs.
The new executive team will play a vital role in translating this technical advantage into commercial leadership. Working collaboratively, Mallery, Pryor, and Rubino will oversee the development of robust engineering processes, scalable chemical manufacturing platforms, and the financial infrastructure required to support rapid growth.
“As we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in energy storage, we are thrilled to be attracting some of the brightest minds in the industry,” said Sisto. “Meryl, Seqwana, and Michael bring precisely the experience our company needs, in the exact areas in which we operate, and I couldn’t be more excited to have them on board. Attracting executives of this caliber is a huge stamp of confidence in our organization, and their experience scaling similar technologies for global industry leaders will be instrumental in the next phase of our growth.”
In the months ahead, XL Batteries plans to initiate additional pilot programs, expand its commercial partnerships, and finalize the design of its first full-scale manufacturing facility. The company is also exploring opportunities to deploy its battery technology in diverse applications ranging from utility-scale solar and wind farms to microgrids and critical infrastructure systems.
With an enhanced executive team in place and growing momentum in the marketplace, XL Batteries is positioning itself to become a leader in the global shift toward clean, reliable, and scalable energy storage. The strategic appointments of Mallery, Pryor, and Rubino mark a new chapter in the company’s journey—one focused on scale, impact, and delivering on the promise of sustainable energy for all.
