While Michael Lefenfeld runs a company with over a century of operating experience, that doesn’t mean they’re keeping it old-school. “Our goal is to modernize chemical manufacturing,” says the CEO and president of Hexion, a Columbus, Ohio-based manufacturer making materials that are the building blocks for critical industries like construction, agriculture, energy, automotive and infrastructure protection.
“At this point in my career, what excites me most is the convergence of science, data and entrepreneurial thinking. That intersection is where real transformation happens,” he says. “As CEO, I see my role as connecting these threads: enabling our scientists and engineers to push boundaries while building a business and chemistry platform that is resilient, responsible and ready for what comes next.”
In the following interview, Lefenfeld shares how the company is accomplishing this goal.
Tell us about your initiatives in advanced manufacturing, sustainability and AI.
At Hexion, we don’t treat advanced manufacturing, sustainability and AI as separate priorities. They are a part of a single strategy to transform how we operate, innovate, compete and create long-term value.
Our goal is to modernize chemical manufacturing, making it smarter, more sustainable and more responsive to our customers’ evolving needs. That means rethinking everything from raw materials to digital technologies to the mindset we bring to the plant floor.
One example of this is our recent acquisition of Smartech, which allows us to advance a suite of smart manufacturing platforms that integrate AI, machine learning and automation into daily operations. Solutions like SmartQuality and SmartPress are helping mills reduce variability, improve throughput and support more predictive, efficient manufacturing. For our customers, this means more consistent performance, faster throughout and a stronger partner in meeting their evolving needs.
On the sustainability front, we’re focused on measurable progress: reducing emissions, advancing bio-based chemistries and helping our partners meet their own climate commitments. Across our portfolio, from adhesives to coatings to composites, we’re developing high-performance materials designed to deliver superior results with less environmental cost.
AI is one of the most powerful tools we have to accelerate that progress. Hexion teams are applying AI to analyze production data in real time, optimize energy consumption, predict equipment maintenance and even molecular modeling. What once took months of lab work, we can now simulate and refine in days. That kind of speed doesn’t just cut costs—it reduces waste, accelerates delivery and unlocks new levels of innovation.
But the real transformation happens when technology meets culture. Through our global Hexion AI Innovation Challenge, 118 associates from nine countries submitted 242 ideas for ways to leverage AI to strengthen operations, enhance safety and deliver greater value for customers.
This kind of excitement and engagement tells me that our teams are building more than simple digital tools; we’re building a company-wide mindset around curiosity, experimentation and better decision making.
What do your manufacturing operations look like?
We operate a global network of manufacturing facilities, including 17 across the US, that serve a diverse set of industries including automotive, construction, wind energy and consumer goods. Our plants produce a range of specialty resins, adhesives and performance materials: core ingredients that support critical infrastructure and everyday products around the world.
Although we are in a mature industry, these plants are evolving fast. We’ve made significant investments in digital infrastructure, automation and advanced safety systems to make operations smarter, faster and more resilient. Our approach blends human expertise with data-driven decision making.
AI and advanced analytics give our teams the insights they need, but it’s the experience and judgement of our people that really drive performance. Every shift, every product, every customer delivery is built on a foundation of expertise, precision and continuous improvement.
We’re also working side-by-side with customers to align production with their sustainability goals. Whether it’s producing bio-based resins for engineered wood and wind turbines or high-performance coatings for vehicles, Hexion is set up to deliver consistently and at speed.
For us, the future of manufacturing is not just about capacity. It’s about adaptability, intelligence and impact.
You’re a scientist-turned-CEO—tell us about your career journey.
I’ve always been drawn to the idea that smart science can solve real world problems. That curiosity is what led me to study chemistry and launch companies early in my career that focused on clean energy, healthcare and advanced materials. Those early experiences taught me that breakthrough ideas are only valuable if you can apply and scale them—if you can connect science to strategy, to markets, to operations.
That mindset is also what brought me to Hexion. Here was a company with nearly 170 years of history and the opportunity to reimagine what chemical manufacturing could become. From day one, I’ve been drawn to the challenge of making chemistry safer, cleaner and more efficient, using innovation to prove that performance and sustainability are not at odds, but inseparable.
At this point in my career, what excites me most is the convergence of science, data and entrepreneurial thinking. That intersection is where real transformation happens. As CEO, I see my role as connecting these threads: enabling our scientists and engineers to push boundaries while building a business and chemistry platform that is resilient, responsible and ready for what comes next.
At its core, my work at Hexion is about building things that last. Products that outperform. Systems that adapt and grow with you. A business that future generations can rely on. Create lasting value for our customers, communities and shareholders for the next 170 years—that’s what drives me.
What’s next for Hexion?
We’re building the next era of Hexion: one focused on accelerating sustainable innovation, digital leadership and advanced materials that help customers meet the challenges of a changing world.
One primary area of focus is scaling our cellulosic platform. Simply put, we’re growing our business on renewable, wood-derived chemistries that deliver the same—or better—performance. This isn’t science fiction. It’s commercial-scale innovation that helps customers build stronger and safer homes, lighter vehicles and smarter infrastructure with fewer environmental tradeoffs.
We are also expanding the use of digital tools and AI across our operations and industry, accelerating everything from manufacturing to logistics to customer solutions. We’re deepening our partnership, with startups, universities and global leaders, to move faster and think bigger.
The future of Hexion isn’t about doing what we’ve always done. It’s about becoming the materials technology and solutions partner for the next generation of industry. That means leading with science, fueled by data and driven by purpose.
