Mourad Chennaoui: From PhD Scientist to Renno Founder, Career, Success and Family
Mourad Chennaoui is a French scientist, product leader and entrepreneur whose career connects advanced engineering with practical business ideas. He has worked in physical chemistry, tribology, digital engineering, artificial intelligence, product development and industrial innovation. He is now best known as the founder and Chief Product and Technology Officer of Renno, a company creating a safer payment system for residential construction.
Who Is Mourad Chennaoui?
Mourad Chennaoui was born in April 1975 and is a French national. He lives in the Netherlands and is based professionally in Amsterdam. Companies House records connect him with an active directorship at Renno Pro UK Limited, where he was appointed on 8 April 2026. His corporate identity verification is recorded as complete.
He is also known publicly as the husband of Orla Chennaoui, the Northern Irish journalist and leading cycling presenter. The couple have two children and divide family life between Amsterdam and London because of their work. While Orla works in international sports broadcasting, Mourad has built a career in science, engineering, product strategy and technology businesses.
Mourad Chennaoui’s Education
Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh
Mourad Chennaoui studied Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. From 2001 to 2004, he completed an MChem with honours in Chemistry and industrial experience. His degree work included a placement in research and development at BP and Castrol, where he gained an early understanding of industrial science and commercial product needs.
His university project focused on the synthesis of novel copper-based chemical assemblies. This subject required knowledge of molecular structure, laboratory methods and careful scientific testing. It also formed an early foundation for the technical problem-solving skills that later shaped his professional work.
Doctoral Work in Physical Chemistry
From 2004 to 2008, Chennaoui completed a PhD in Chemistry, specialising in Physical Chemistry. His doctoral work focused on fluorescent tracers for velocimetry measurements in multi-constituent and multiphase flows. The PhD gave Chennaoui a deep technical base. It also prepared him to work with advanced imaging systems, fluid behaviour, surface interactions and industrial equipment. Those subjects later became important in his work with Imperial College London and SKF.
Work at Imperial College London
Tribology and Engineering Innovation
From July 2009 to February 2016, Chennaoui worked with Imperial College London’s Tribology Group and SKF University Technology Centre. His role was Research Associate, and his work focused on lubrication, bearings, fluorescence imaging and optomechanical systems.
He managed the development of a test rig designed to measure lubricant thickness inside operating bearings. The system used interferometry and fluorescence-based imaging, allowing engineers to study lubrication in conditions closer to real industrial use.
His work also included the iBETTER programme, supported through the European Union’s Marie Curie fellowship scheme. He helped develop a fluorescent method for measuring grease movement in high-speed bearings. Grease migration can affect the reliability and life of machinery, so the project had clear value for industrial maintenance and equipment design.
Practical Value of His Scientific Work
At Imperial College London, Chennaoui worked on surface-active molecules, lubricant interactions and polymer movement. These subjects may sound highly specialised, but they have practical uses in transport, manufacturing, energy and mechanical engineering.
Career at SKF Group
Senior Scientist and R&D Project Manager
In October 2018, Chennaoui joined SKF Group as a Senior Scientist and R&D Project Manager. Based in Houten in the Netherlands, he led cross-functional teams working on bearing lubrication, wind turbine systems and electric vehicle grease development.
His responsibilities included technical planning, budget control, stakeholder management and delivery of long-term industrial projects. He also helped create an artificial-intelligence tool for detecting bearing failures. The system was delivered in less than nine months and aimed to improve inspection accuracy while reducing costs for industrial customers.
Another project involved an SKF application designed to extend the working life of large bearings used in the metals industry. He provided updates to steering groups and helped connect technical teams with wider business goals.
Product Manager for Digital Engineering
From January 2021 to October 2023, Chennaoui served as Product Manager for Digital Engineering and Innovation at SKF. This role moved him further towards product strategy and commercial development. He led a global development team working on digital engineering solutions, rapid prototypes and iterative improvements. He also helped deliver two business-to-business pilot projects in less than twelve months.
His duties included creating product roadmaps, working with sales teams and developing business models for predictive maintenance. He also assessed emerging technologies through venture partnerships and contributed to patent applications.
Product Leadership at Interflon
Rail, Marine and Sustainable Products
From January to December 2024, Mourad Chennaoui worked at Interflon as Partnerships Development and Portfolio Manager. The role involved product development and portfolio management across rail and marine sectors.
He led work connected with railhead approval for a major European national rail operator. The project supported compliance, market entry and future expansion. He also helped introduce a PTFE-free slide-chair lubricant in two European markets, supporting environmental and regulatory goals.
In the marine sector, he led two pilot projects involving wire-rope lubricants. These projects helped the company build relationships with new customers in Spain and Finland. He also managed a packaging initiative that introduced post-consumer recycled materials within three months.
Mourad Chennaoui and Renno
Founding a Construction Payment Company
In February 2025, Mourad Chennaoui became Founder and CPTO of Renno in Amsterdam. The company focuses on payment systems for Europe’s residential construction and renovation industry. Its goal is to reduce delays, financial pressure and disputes between homeowners and contractors.
The construction sector often involves large deposits, delayed invoices and contractors using personal funds or credit cards to keep projects moving. Renno addresses this problem by securing the full project amount in escrow. Money is then released when agreed milestones are completed and verified.
This model aims to give contractors quicker access to earned funds while giving homeowners greater control over payments. It creates a trackable process in which work progress and money movement are connected.
His Role as CPTO
As Chief Product and Technology Officer, Mourad Chennaoui is responsible for the product and technical direction of Renno. His previous work gives him experience in product design, industrial systems, artificial intelligence, customer needs and commercial partnerships.
The company launched in the Netherlands and has discussed growth into Belgium, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. Renno also raised €1 million in pre-seed funding from investors and early-stage venture groups. This funding supports the development of its payment infrastructure and wider European plans.
A Different Approach to Construction Finance
Renno is not simply a payment app. Its wider aim is to create a financial reputation standard for construction small and medium-sized enterprises. Reliable completion records and clear payment behaviour could help homeowners and contractors choose dependable partners.
Patents and Technical Achievements
During his time at SKF, Mourad Chennaoui was connected with patented engineering work. His professional records include innovations related to imaging systems mounted to bearing rings and deep-groove ball bearings. These projects reflect his long-term interest in improving maintenance, monitoring and equipment performance.
His scientific work has also contributed to knowledge about lubricant film thickness in rolling bearings. By combining optical interferometry with fluorescence imaging, engineers can gain a clearer view of lubrication inside a moving bearing.
These achievements show a career built on solving difficult technical problems. They also explain why Chennaoui has been able to move into digital product leadership and technology entrepreneurship.
Mourad Chennaoui’s Skills and Leadership Style
Mourad Chennaoui’s skills cover product strategy, product management, digital engineering, artificial intelligence, computer vision, business development and technical programme leadership. He has managed teams, budgets, pilot projects and partnerships across international markets.
His leadership style can be seen in the way he connects specialists from different fields. Scientists, engineers, sales teams, customers and investors all need a shared understanding of a project. Chennaoui’s background helps him translate technical ideas into useful business decisions.
He also has experience with sustainability. His work at Interflon included recycled packaging and PTFE-free lubricant development, while his earlier industrial roles involved longer equipment life and predictive maintenance. These projects can reduce waste, downtime and unnecessary replacement costs.
Mourad Chennaoui Personal Life and Marriage
Mourad Chennaoui is married to Orla Chennaoui. She is a prominent sports journalist and presenter who works across Eurosport and TNT Sports cycling coverage. The couple’s professional worlds are different, but both careers involve international travel, demanding schedules and public-facing work. They have two children and maintain connections with Amsterdam and London. Their family life has been shaped by work commitments, sporting events, business travel and the need for careful planning.
Mourad has also spoken warmly about Orla’s support. In a LinkedIn post about his technical work being recognised by editors of a tribology journal, he thanked her for her patience and encouragement. The post provides a direct connection between the scientist and the sports presenter.
How Old Is Mourad Chennaoui?
Mourad Chennaoui was born in April 1975. He is 51 years old in 2026. His career has developed over more than two decades, moving from university science and engineering into product management and entrepreneurship. His career spans technological change, from laboratory chemistry and optical systems to industrial machinery and modern construction payment technology.
What Is Next for Mourad Chennaoui?
His main current focus is Renno and its payment system for residential construction. The company has the potential to grow as more contractors and homeowners seek safer ways to manage deposits, project stages and final payments.
Mourad Chennaoui’s background gives Renno a strong technical and commercial foundation. He understands how to build products, lead development teams, work with industrial customers and turn complex systems into practical services.
Future work may include expanding the platform into more European markets, improving its verification tools and developing wider links between payment history and trust in construction. His experience suggests a continued focus on technology that solves everyday business problems.
Final Thoughts
Mourad Chennaoui has built a varied career across science, engineering, product development and entrepreneurship. His education at the University of Edinburgh gave him a strong foundation in chemistry and physical chemistry. His time at Imperial College London developed his expertise in tribology, imaging and lubrication systems.
At SKF, he moved into industrial innovation, artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance and digital engineering. At Interflon, he expanded his work into rail, marine products, sustainability and customer partnerships. Today, Renno allows him to apply these lessons to construction finance.
As founder and CPTO, he is working to make residential building payments safer, quicker and easier to track. His professional journey shows how scientific knowledge can lead to practical business innovation. Alongside his demanding career, he shares family life with Orla Chennaoui and their two children, creating a personal story that connects technology, media and modern European life.
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