Leading with purpose and science

At Hexion, our dedicated teams innovate new products that are stronger, safer, cleaner, and drive us toward a more sustainable future for all - and we have the history to prove it.
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We've been here a while

Founded more then 150 years ago, Hexion's history has been built on thinking differently and focusing on the needs of our communities. 

Our legacy can be traced to Gail Borden, who was an inventor focused on developing new food concentrates to alleviate the hardships experienced by pioneers. His philosophy continues to inspire and guide us, even today.

Gail Borden

2022

Once again, Hexion takes another step towards greater sustainability by announcing our adoption of renewable methanol in the production of formaldehyde, further meeting our customers’ performance standards and sustainability goals.   

2021

Our expansion of acids capacity in Pernis and of VeoVa™ 9 vinyl ester capacity in Moerdijk!

2020

Sometimes the world requires a pivot. Two Hexion manufacturing sites switched production to hand sanitizer to support regional needs at the onset of COVID-19.

2020

Hexion turns down the heat with the launch of ArmorBuilt™ fire resistant wrap to greatly improve fire protection.

2019

Hexion showed up in a big way for our community with our new and expanded Hexion Cares Day!

2017

Hexion expanded our Edmonton R&D facility focused on developing next generation resin chemistry for wood panel production!

2015

Hexion expands its formaldehyde global network with the construction of three new plants. We're expanding our reach to meet the growing demand and provide top-notch products to our valued customers (like you!).

2013

Hexion was certified by the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care Management System, a third-party validation of our commitment to operate in an ethical, safe, and environmentally sound way.

2010

Olá, Brazil! Hexion unveils a brand-new manufacturing complex in Montenegro to serve the booming forest products industry in South America. 

2007

Hexion's engineered wood adhesives break barriers by becoming the first to meet the highest heat resistant adhesive (HRA) standard set by the American Wood Council. 

2006

Hexion rocks the world with EcoBind™ ultra-low emitting resin technology, meeting and surpassing global indoor air quality standards. Fresh air for everyone! Plus, Hexion hits the Canadian oil and gas scene, opening a resin-coated proppant plant in Alberta.

2005

Hexion as you know it is born from a combination of Borden Chemical, Inc., Bakelite AG, Resolution Performance Products LLC (which includes the Shell epoxy businesses) and Resolution Specialty Materials LLC. This is also the year when Hexion becomes the global leader in thermoset resins!

1995-2001

Borden Inc has become much more than milk at this point, so it divests its dairy and food divisions to focus solely on its chemicals business, renaming itself (appropriately) to Borden Chemical in late 2001.

1978

The first modern wind turbine is built. Why does this matter? Well, they used MGS specialty resins (a Bakelite/Hexion legacy company).

1950s

Borden Inc. booms, expanding into even more adhesives, coating, and plastics businesses.

1940s

The people want more plywood and particleboard, which means they need more of that adhesive.

1910-1930s

The innovation begins in Borden’s Chemical Division! We learn that Casein, a byproduct of Gail Borden’s milk production process, can also be used as to make adhesives for wood, paints, and hard plastics. (Whodathunk, right?)

1857

Gail Borden Jr. and Company is founded. Its primary product? Condensed milk.

The values that guide us

At Hexion, our values are the guiding force that shapes every aspect of our business. They inform the decisions we make, the breakthroughs we pursue, and the partnerships we choose to enter.

Three Animated Hands and a Heart
01

Ethics and Integrity

For us, this one’s simple. We do the right thing. We say what we mean. 
We do what we say.

02

Safety, Health and Environmental Stewardship

Safety is personal. Our work is never more important or urgent than performing it safely.

03

Centered on our Customers

Our customer’s success is at the core of our existence. By focusing fully on our customers we turn market needs into advanced solutions that add true value to your business.

04

Creativity

Breakthrough thinking inspires us to bring the future to life. Limitless imagination and a commitment to innovation are our competitive advantage.

05

Our People

We are engaged, developed, and empowered. We continuously learn and achieve our highest level of performance. We create our future.

06

High Performance Teamwork

We listen, trust, and align internally. We unleash our individual and collective strengths to work in boundaryless ways. At the end of the day, we commit to the good of the whole.

Our mission drives us forward

At Hexion, we create innovative performance materials that are the building blocks for critical industries—including construction, agriculture, energy, automotive, and infrastructure protection. Everywhere you look, you will find our materials and people at work to help customers make products that are stronger, safer, and cleaner. Grounded by a history that is deeply-rooted in innovation, we are committed to operating safely and with integrity to build a more sustainable future for all – our associates, our customers, and the communities where we live and work.

Our vision keeps us going


Building and protecting the future 
using innovative science today

Blinking eye in viewfinder

Meet our Leadership

Get to know the people that are guiding Hexion’s sustainable journey and driving positive change through commitment, accountability, and action.

Michael Lefenfeld
President and CEO

Michael Lefenfeld

Michael Lefenfeld is President and Chief Executive Officer at Hexion Inc. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hexion Inc. and serves as a member of the Board of Managers for ASP Resins Holdings LP. Michael joined Hexion in January 2023.

Prior to joining Hexion and beginning in 2018, Michael served as President and CEO of Cyanco International, where he led the world’s largest manufacturer of gold and silver extraction materials, while driving the effort to make recovery safer and more efficient.  From 2007 to 2017, he was President and CEO of SIGNa Chemistry, a global chemical manufacturer of reactive metal materials serving oil & gas recovery, petrochemical refining, alternative energy and chemical processing industries. Michael also founded Alkami Consulting Group, a technology investment advisory group, and Blood Gas Diagnostics, a medical device technology growth company. 

With a unique combination of executive, operational and entrepreneurial experience, Michael holds more than 100 patents and patents pending that are intended to collectively address some of the world’s most pressing environmental and sustainable product-related challenges.   A serial entrepreneur, he has been named a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum in 2016, while SIGNa was recognized with the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Award under his leadership. Michael earned 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. 

                            
Mark D. Bidstrup, EVP and Chief Financial Officer, Hexion
EVP and Chief Financial Officer

Mark D. Bidstrup

Mark Bidstrup serves as Hexion's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since May 2022. 

Prior to his current position Mark served as Hexion’s Senior Vice President and Treasurer since 2016. Mark previously served as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Hexion’s Epoxy, Phenolics and Coatings Resins Division, a position he has held since 2009. With more than 25 years of finance experience, Mr. Bidstrup previously held senior finance roles for Borden Chemical Inc. and Borden Foods Corporation, as well as serving as an auditor for Price Waterhouse.

Mr. Bidstrup earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University.
Burt Capel headshot
Senior Vice President
Chief Commercial Officer

Burt Capel

Burt Capel currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, Burt spearheads Hexion’s commercial growth strategy, advocates for the successful market launch of new products, and cultivates valuable commercial partnerships.

With nearly three decades of experience in the chemical materials and plastics industry, Burt brings a wealth of expertise to his position. Prior to joining Hexion, he held various key roles at Eastman Chemical Company, culminating in his position as President of Fibers based in Zurich, Switzerland. Burt's contributions to the Specialty Plastics Business and his pivotal role in launching new products underscore his dynamic impact throughout his tenure at Eastman. His professional journey began at Exxon Chemical then to GE Plastics, where he assumed diverse chemical and various commercial leadership roles.

Known for his ability to build high-performing teams, Burt prioritizes cultivating a culture centered around growth, analysis, and innovation. His leadership philosophy emphasizes not only achieving strategic goals but also fostering a positive and collaborative workplace.

Burt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Alabama and a Master of Business Administration from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Kate Carney
Vice President, Business Initiatives and Project Management

Kate Carney

Kate Carney is Vice President, Business Initiatives and Project Management at Hexion. In this role, she works closely with the Office of the CEO to facilitate prioritization and management of key corporate initiatives, implement operational improvements, and enable collaboration and integration throughout all business units.

Prior to this role, Kate served as Chief of Staff and strategic / operational advisor for several private equity-backed companies in the chemical, manufacturing and technology sectors. Her work has focused on companies undergoing rapid growth or transformational phases, including reorganizations, acquisitions, divestitures, and start-ups.  She regularly serves as a key member of the leadership team guiding corporate restructures, workflow transformations and post-acquisition integrations. 

Kate earned her Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University and a Bachelors in Management Science from State University of New York, College at Geneseo.
Sandy Kowaleski headshot
Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

Sandra Kowaleski

Sandy Kowaleski joined Hexion in 2024 as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Sandy has a wealth of experience in global operations, spanning 20 years in various industries. She has achieved remarkable outcomes in enhancing operational excellence, pricing, and supply chain capabilities, spearheading sustainability initiatives, and fostering a culture of safety, quality and performance among associates. Sandy is adept at delivering results in challenging and dynamic business environments. 

Sandy joins Hexion from Stanley Black & Decker, where she served as Vice President of Outdoor Operations. She managed global manufacturing operations with a focus on safety, quality, cost, talent, process innovation and new product launches. Before that, Sandy held operational leadership positions at Momentive, BASF, and Minerals Technologies where she generated significant improvements in operating efficiency, cost savings and earnings. Sandy earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Ryan Preston headshot
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer

Ryan Preston

Ryan J. Preston joined Hexion in 2024 as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. He has over 20 years of experience as a commercial attorney, collaborating with multi-national corporations, middle market businesses, and VC-backed portfolio companies. He has successfully structured numerous critical and transformative commercial relationships and negotiated and drafted complex commercial agreements for his clients, covering a wide range of industries and sectors. Previous clients include companies like Cyanco Company, Inc., Expedia, Amazon, Allegheny Energy and Vital Farms. 

Ryan J. Preston holds a Juris Doctorate from Washington and Lee University School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science from Southern Methodist University. He has been recognized by Chambers USA for Technology: Outsourcing and selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for 2024 in Privacy and Data Security Law by The Best Lawyers in America®. 

Vice President, Chief Information Officer

Bhaskar Ramani

Bhaskar Ramani is the Chief Information Officer at Hexion Inc.

He has over 24 years of experience with Information Technology in the Transportation, Energy and Aviation businesses at General Electric. More recently he was the CIO at LM Wind Power driving a digital transformation agenda as well as an IoT based manufacturing transition. 

He is a global technology professional, and has held CTO, CIO, Global offshore center, and transformation roles based out of India, South Africa, Singapore, and the US over his career.   

He holds a masters with a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IMDR, Pune, and a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics & Communication from Bangalore University.

He is a mentor on the Board for Walton Robotics, supporting the school with their FIRST robotics team, and enjoys reading, technology, and the outdoors in his spare time.

Sheila Rutt headshot
Senior Vice President
Chief Human Resources Officer

Shiela Rutt

Sheila Rutt has spent more than 25 years in leadership roles with various global organizations including Culligan International, RR Donnelly and Diebold Nixdorf Incorporated. With 18 years of CHRO experience and more than 25 years of experience in Human Resources, Sheila is an accomplished Global HR Business Executive with a successful track record building capable and engaged teams who deliver strong business outcomes during periods of rapid growth.

Joining in July of 2023 as Hexion’s Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Rutt leads talent acquisition, talent management, total rewards, leadership development, associate relations, HRIS, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. With a deep background in talent management and associate engagement, she provides seasoned leadership that supports our mission and vision, advances our diversity and inclusion efforts, and fosters a culture that positively impacts our associates.

Tekie Zeru headshot
Senior Vice President
Chief Technology Officer

Tekie Zeru

Zeru Tekie joined Hexion in 2023 as the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. He leads Hexion’s science and technology innovation portfolio, technical services capabilities and continuous improvement initiatives with an emphasis on operational excellence and sustainability. Before joining Hexion, he served as Vice President of Technology, Advanced Performance Materials for Chemours and Corporate R&D Director for 3M. With more than 25 years of experience in the chemical industry, Tekie has a strong track record of delivering business value through technology innovation, asset optimization, cost productivity, capital effectiveness and continuous improvement programs.

Tekie holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

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