Hexion CEO Michael Lefenfeld to Keynote The Chemical Summit 2026

Michael Lefenfeld, the President and CEO of Hexion, has been announced as the opening keynote speaker for The Chemical Summit 2026, scheduled for September 29-30 in Houston, Texas. The event aims to address critical industry challenges including slower growth, geopolitical uncertainty, and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. This announcement highlights a growing focus on executive-level dialogue and strategic transformation within the global chemical sector as companies seek to maintain competitive advantages in a changing economic landscape.

Michael Lefenfeld, President and CEO of Hexion, will deliver the opening keynote at The Chemical Summit 2026, scheduled for September 29-30 in Houston, Texas. Victoria King Meyer, the founder of the summit and host of The Chemical Show podcast, highlighted Lefenfeld's reputation for guiding organizations through strategic transformations and maintaining a focus on innovation and customer needs. The event is tailored specifically for senior executives across the chemical value chain, focusing on strategy, commercial growth, and digital transformation through executive dialogue and peer learning rather than traditional trade show activities.

Hexion is currently positioned as a global leader in performance materials and industrial technologies, emphasizing a transition toward renewable, cellulose-based solutions. The company utilizes its 170-year history of chemical expertise alongside AI-driven process innovation and precision manufacturing to develop materials for the construction, packaging, energy, and automotive sectors. Lefenfeld has been instrumental in strengthening Hexion's specialty materials portfolio and advancing operational excellence to ensure long-term growth and resource efficiency in a competitive global market.

The summit aims to help industry leaders navigate a period of slower growth, geopolitical uncertainty, and the rapid advancement of digital technologies like artificial intelligence. Key themes for the 2026 event include decarbonization, digitalization, and the pursuit of sustainable performance as companies work to redefine their roles in the global economy. By facilitating candid executive-level conversations and peer-to-peer learning, the conference intends to provide actionable insights that help chemical companies turn strategic vision into execution and sustain a long-term competitive advantage.