Michael Lefenfeld
President & Chief Executive Officer @Hexion Inc.
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WORK HISTORY
President & Chief Executive Officer @Hexion Inc.
Columbus, OH, US
Hexion is a global leader in industrial adhesives and performance materials, serving customers in construction, infrastructure, and energy. Recruited to lead the company’s transformation, I’ve focused on repositioning Hexion from a commodity supplier to a specialty materials and technology platform. In the first 18 months, we doubled EBITDA, enhanced working capital by 54%, introduced AI-enabled systems to improve customer throughput and reduce waste, and built a new innovation pipeline focused on sustainability and performance. These changes are leading to a more agile, data-driven company – one better positioned to support customer success, unlock long-term value, and compete in a rapidly-evolving industrial landscape.
EDUCATION
Columbia University
M.Phil., Chemistry
Columbia University
Master's Degree, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry
Stanford University Graduate School of Business
Executive Education Certificate, Transformative Leadership for Sustainability and Resilience
Washington University in St. Louis
B.S., Chemical Engineering
SKILLS
ABOUT MICHAEL LEFENFELD
The future belongs to those bold enough to reimagine it. I’ve always been drawn to challenges that are outside the traditional playbook – leading companies, teams and cultures that tackle some of industry’s most important problems. Whether in medical devices, energy systems, advanced materials or industrial manufacturing, my approach is consistent: imagine a better way, bring together a great team, then deliver it with speed and at scale. The biggest gains don’t come from squeezing margins. They come from intelligent reinvention. When performance stalls or opportunity gets trapped inside complexity, it’s rarely a talent problem. It’s the system. By redesigning workflows, rethinking value chains and rebuilding the decision making process – using the right mix of technology, business model clarity and cultural alignment – companies not only unlock better margins, but entirely new ways to compete, grow and lead.My experience spans science, entrepreneurship, and private-equity-backed growth. I’ve built companies from the ground up, scaled global operations, led turnarounds, and developed IP portfolios that are still in use today. I’ve also repositioned businesses for successful exit, driven margin expansion through operating model redesign, and helped investors unlock value in underperforming assets. Increasingly, my work includes embedding AI, advanced analytics, and digital infrastructure into the core of how companies operate. But the common thread is always rigorous strategic execution – turning transformation and innovation from buzzwords into levers that unlock measurable value. The future of industrial work will be shaped by those willing to rethink how things are built, run, and scaled. I stay closely involved in that future, advising CEOs, supporting early-stage ventures, and serving on boards that prioritize long-term value creation through bold strategic visions, innovation, and sustainability. The challenges are complex, but the upside is enormous when the right mindsets, people, and systems align.
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