Management Team

Dr. Oded Tour, CEO and Co-Founder

Dr. Tour, a co-founder of Tour Engine Inc., oversees the entire range of operations including interactions with OEMs, investors, corporate and IP attorneys, academia and government. He also participates in the R&D of the TourEngine™ prototype and thermodynamic analysis. Dr. Tour’s experience in cutting edge scientific research spans over more than 20 years, including six years as a HHMI associate researcher at the laboratory of the 2008 Nobel laureate in chemistry, Roger Tsien, at the University of California San Diego. He received his BS, MS in Biology and Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Hugo Tour, CTO and Co-Founder

Hugo is a co-founder of Tour Engine Inc. and the inventor of the TourEngine™ design. He leads the company's R&D efforts and continues to extend the company's IP portfolio. Hugo is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Israeli Air Force (IAF), where he held key positions including base commander of the IAF Mechanical and Engineering control laboratories (Yahav). He gained vast experience in engine technologies while establishing a reputation at the IAF as an  exceptional “out-of-the-box” mechanical troubleshooter and problem solver. For the past 20 years Hugo focused his talents and passion on combustion engines innovation, which led to the  invention of the TourEngine™.

Dr. Ehud Sivan, COO Israel Operation

Dr. Sivan has been involved with Tour Engine Inc. from its start and is currently heading Tour Engine Inc. business and operation efforts in Israel.  Dr. Sivan experience in R&D spans over more than 20 years in which he was engaged in all aspects of development: programming, analyzing, and managing up to 40 people. He received his BS in Computer Science and his MS and Ph.D in Computer Science and Physiology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Advisory Board

Dr. Chris Atkinson

Dr. Atkinson is a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at West Virginia University (WVU). Dr. Atkinson is an expert in advanced energy technologies including next generation engine technologies, engine control, exhaust emissions, fuel efficiency, alternative fuels, and hybrid electric vehicles. Dr. Atkinson has also been a consulting engineer in the clean sustainable energy and automotive fields and has experience in business development, project management and entrepreneurship. He holds the degrees of BS Chemical Engineering from the University of Natal, South Africa, MSME from West Virginia University, and Sc.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT.

Mr. Rick Sander

Currently, Mr. Sander is the COO of Power Efficiency Corporation, a start-up company located in San Diego who provides energy savings and controls for electric motors.  Prior to PEC, Mr. Sander was the President & CEO of ISE Corporation, a developer of a hybrid/EV drive system for commercial vehicles. Prior to ISE, Mr. Sander was the Vice President of Worldwide Operations and Supply Chain Management for SMT, a $1 billion producer of memory and embedded computing. Other companies where he has held management positions include JNI, Cymer, Maxwell Technologies, Bombardier, PACCAR, and HP.  Mr. Sander earned his M.B.A. from San Diego State University, a B.S. in Industrial Manufacturing Engineering from Oregon State University, and Physics at Pacific Lutheran University.

Dr. William Sirignano

Dr. Sirignano is the Henry Samueli Endowed Chair in Engineering and Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Dr. Sirignano leads the Combustion, Fluid Dynamics and Propulsion Group and is the director of the Spray and Droplet Science and Technology Center at the University of California Irvine (UCI).   Dr. Sirignano holds the degrees B. Aero. Eng. from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MS and Ph.D. from Princeton University.

Prof. Reuven Grunau

Dr. Grunau is well integrated in the economic and business communities in Israel. He was the President of the Israeli Economic Association and the Chairman of Department of Economics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is currently serving as a director at Israel Discount Bank, the third largest Israeli bank with over $38B in assets, and as a director at Migdal, the largest insurance company in Israel. Dr. Grunau holds the degrees of BA and MA in economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University.