About Michael
Michael Lefenfeld is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hexion Inc., where he also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and as a member of the Board of Managers for ASP Resins Holdings LP. Since joining Hexion in 2023, Lefenfeld has led a sweeping transformation of the nearly 170-year-old company—from a commodity chemical supplier into a technology-enabled, solutions-driven leader in advanced materials and manufacturing. His vision has redefined how the company innovates and competes, embedding artificial intelligence across operations, modernizing its manufacturing systems, and positioning Hexion at the forefront of responsible industrial transformation.
Under Lefenfeld’s leadership, Hexion has launched its enterprise-wide transformation, accelerated sustainable innovation through bio-based and circular materials, and integrated Smartech’s AI-powered manufacturing systems to optimize efficiency and reduce waste. These efforts reflect his conviction that advanced manufacturing must unite data, design, and science to achieve both performance and environmental progress. His approach—data-informed, human-led, and safety-first—has produced measurable gains in productivity and financial performance, while establishing Hexion as a model for modernization in the global chemical sector.
A scientist and serial entrepreneur by background, Lefenfeld holds more than 100 patents addressing sustainable materials and clean technologies. Prior to Hexion, he served as CEO of Cyanco International and SiGNa Chemistry, and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2016. In 2025, he was recognized as CEO of the Year by Columbus Business First for his leadership in transforming Hexion and advancing the integration of AI across industrial operations. Lefenfeld holds a Master of Philosophy and Master of Science in Chemistry from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.
