You are currently viewing Hexion Inc.: On the Path Towards to Responsible Chemistry
Craig Rogerson | Chairman & President | CEO | Hexion Inc.

Hexion Inc.: On the Path Towards to Responsible Chemistry

Chemical industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries, serving both a sizable domestic market and an expanding global market. Strong product identification and quality, access to highly educated workforce, world-class production facility, and a robust regulatory system has made Hexion Inc. a competitive chemical firm across the globe.
We at Insights Success are delighted to introduce you to Craig Rogerson, the Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Hexion Inc. We’ve had the privilege to understand and exhibit his professional journey at Hexion Inc. The company is driving industrial trends providing products, and partnering with producers and manufacturers to innovate and use chemistry to make the world better, safer and cleaner.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Brief us about your company, its inception story and the vision behind.
For over 100 years, Hexion Inc. has been advancing specialty chemicals and performance materials. From a combination of four companies in 2005 (Resolution Performance Products, Resolution Specialty Materials, Borden Chemical and Bakelite), Hexion has grown and expanded our technologies and global footprint. We are pioneers of a higher chemistry.
A chemistry designed to address the most pressing issues of our time. Hexion is committed to safe manufacturing and community involvement. The company’s diversified product portfolio understands no boundaries, making it capable and responsible for shaping the future. This is the responsible path forward and is what we call Responsible Chemistry.
Kindly provide a brief overview of your products and services.
Hexion is currently one of the world’s largest producers of thermosetting resins and a leading producer of coatings, adhesives and specialty resins. Our specialty chemicals are critical components in most paints, coatings, binders and other adhesives that serve a diverse range of industries and provide valuable performance characteristics of durability, gloss, heat resistance, adhesion or strength of the final product.
Please tell us something about your Founder/CEO and his contribution towards the company and the industry.
Craig Rogerson is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Hexion Inc. Craig joined Hexion in July 2017.
Prior to joining Hexion, Craig served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chemtura Corporation, a position he held from December 2008 until April 21, 2017. Craig also served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Hercules Incorporated from December 2003 until November 2008.
Craig joined Hercules in 1979 and served in a number of management positions before leaving the company to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wacker Silicones Corporation in 1997. In May 2000, Craig rejoined Hercules and was named President of its BetzDearborn Division in August 2000.
Prior to being named CEO of Hercules in December 2003, Craig held a variety of senior management positions with the company, including president of the FiberVisions and Pinova Divisions, vice president of Global Procurement, and Chief Operating Officer.
Craig serves on the boards of Ashland Global Holdings inc., PPL Corporation, the American Chemistry Council, the Society of Chemical Industry, and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Craig holds a chemical engineering degree from Michigan State University (MSU). He also serves on the advisory board of the MSU Chemical Engineering & Materials Science Department.
With regards to your organization’s profound industry experience, how do you think the chemical industry and market have evolved and what can be expected in the forthcoming years?
The chemical industry has evolved from providing products which help support and sustain the world to partnering with producers and manufacturers to innovate and use chemistry to make the world better, safer and cleaner.
What are the benefits gained by your clients/users from your products/solutions/services?
With nearly 50 facilities, Hexion’s global presence, expert technical support and understanding of the markets we serve better position us to partner with our more than 3,100 customers in 85 countries to help them deliver superior end-market products.
Give us a brief overview about the featured person(s) and their contribution towards the company and its success.
Craig Rogerson is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Hexion. Prior to joining Hexion, Craig served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chemtura Corporation. Craig has been instrumental in driving results at Hexion and successfully leading the corporation through a balance sheet restructuring in 2019, continuing to invest in our specialty portfolio, positioning the company for long-term success, and creating value for our shareholders.
In what ways does your organization contribute towards the Corporate Social Responsibility cause?
Hexion’s corporate social responsibility comes in many forms including community engagement, education and charitable giving. Our participation is local and global. For example, our “Hexion Cares” day encourages associates to volunteer at national and local community organizations.
Hundreds of associates volunteer hundreds of hours around the world throughout the year. Through a variety of outreach activities, Hexion and more than 2,000 of our associates have affected more than 600,000 people, and raised and/or donated more than $700,000.
Considering the necessity of adapting to the volatile technological disruptions and/or development of cutting-edge solutions, how does your company sustain its competency in the Chemicals market?
Hexion continues to find ways to leverage its existing technology and find new technologies to meet expanding market needs. Our products are aligned with some of the key sector megatrends happening globally. For example, Hexion’s EPIKOTE™ and EPIKURE™ epoxy systems are used for wind energy applications, which provide superior mechanical and process properties, reducing air emissions when hours of energy are created. Based on our EPIKOTE™ and EPONOL™ resin systems for automotive applications, Hexion’s enabling technology is used in lightweight auto composite components and other technologies that allow customer to build cars with better mileage, reducing air emissions without sacrificing performance, as well as enabling technologies that support production of electric-powered vehicles.
In addition, flame retardancy in building materials is becoming increasingly critical. In addition, spray foam created with Hexion’s aromatic polyols deliver improved mechanical, thermal and fire properties in polyurethane rigid foam (PUR) and polyisocyanurate insulation (PIR). Finally, Hexion’s NextGen Epoxy™ Waterborne system offers coating performance comparable to solvent-borne systems while providing for lower volatile organic compounds, which reduces air emissions.
What obstacles and/or limitation does your organization face while growing, sustaining or retaining its clientele?
Hexion has a leading market position across our key business segments, so we focus on delivering and demonstrating value to our customers while driving efficiency internally and innovating for the future.
Could you list out the most growth deteriorating challenges for your organization till date? (Talent acquisition / infrastructure or anything apart from the above question’s response)
In addition, finding and keeping the talent we need to be successful is a challenge for any organization.
What does the future hold for your organization in terms of internal as well as holistic development?
We have an experienced management team with extensive chemical industry knowledge and industry leading R&D and technical capabilities. That said, we remain continuously focused on developing the next generation of adhesive, coatings and composite solutions for our global customers.
Would you like to highlight any awards, accolades or testimonials your company has achieved throughout?
Hexion maintains certification under American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Responsible Care® Management System, the chemical industry’s worldclass environmental, health, safety and security initiative. In 2019, three programs and 19 facilities at Hexion were recently named Responsible Care® award winners and honored for excellence in waste minimization, energy efficiency and employee health and safety by the ACC. In addition, Hexion was just named a Leading International Coating Enterprise in China by Paints and Coatings Industry magazine.