Michael Lefenfeld, Hexion Inc.

We sit down with Michael Lefenfeld, President, CEO, and Chair of the Board at Hexion Inc., a global leader in adhesives and performance materials headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Since joining Hexion in early 2023, Michael has been leading an ambitious transformation—positioning the company as an AI‑first, technology‑driven materials innovator. From manufacturing and supply chain to R&D, he’s integrating artificial intelligence and advanced analytics across the enterprise to reshape how the company operates. Before Hexion, Michael served as CEO of Cyanco, led SiGNa Chemistry, founded Alkami Consulting Group, and launched Blood Gas Diagnostics. He holds more than 100 patents and patent applications, was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and guided SiGNa Chemistry to win the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Award. In this conversation, we explore: The breadth of adhesives and performance materials Hexion manufactures What it truly means to shift a global organization to “AI‑first” Practical examples of AI in plant operations The biggest operational gains from predictive maintenance, process optimization, and energy management How to overcome legacy systems and data integration challenges What mid‑sized manufacturers should know before starting their AI journey The future of sustainable materials—including bio‑based chemistry and lignin adhesives How AI accelerates the development of greener, smarter materials The emerging technologies poised to reshape manufacturing over the next 3–5 years Join us for a forward‑looking discussion on AI, sustainability, and the future of materials science with one of the industry’s most innovative leaders. Keywords: AI Manufacturing • Materials Innovation • Sustainability • Industry 4.0