Thierry Le Hénaff

About Thierry Le Hénaff

Thierry Le Hénaff, born in 1963, is one of France’s most prominent industrial leaders in the specialty chemicals sector. He graduated from École Polytechnique and École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, and also holds a Master of Industrial Management from Stanford University. This combination of elite scientific training, engineering rigor, and management education has shaped a career focused on industrial transformation, operational excellence, and long-term value creation. He began his professional career at Peat Marwick Consultants before joining Bostik, Total’s adhesives division, in 1992. There, he held a series of operational roles in France and abroad, building deep expertise in industrial management, international team leadership, and the development of high-value product portfolios. In July 2001, he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bostik Findley, the entity formed by the merger of Total’s and Elf Atochem’s adhesives businesses. This appointment marked a significant step into top executive leadership. In January 2003, he joined Atofina’s Executive Committee, and then Total’s management committee in 2004, further strengthening his experience within a major global group. Since Arkema’s stock market listing in 2006, he has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In that role, he has overseen Arkema’s evolution into a more independent, international specialty materials company with a stronger focus on innovation, advanced materials, and sustainable development. Under his leadership, Arkema has reinforced its position in differentiated markets, with a strategic emphasis on innovation, performance, and sustainability. Thierry Le Hénaff is also known for his governance roles in major French institutions, including Michelin, and for his involvement with the École Polytechnique Foundation and France Industrie. A recipient of both the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit, he represents a demanding vision of French industrial leadership built on strategy, execution discipline, and adaptation to major economic and environmental challenges.