Chairman , CEO and President , Celanese Technology and materials firm Celanese , based in Irving , Texas , operates 25 plants and six research centres worldwide . The company is the world ’ s leading producer of acetic acid , but also develops fuel and industrial materials technology . Its CEO is Lori J . Ryerkerk , who ascended to the role in May 2019 , before being named Chairman in April 2020 . A graduate of Iowa State University , she previously held executive roles at the likes of Shell and Hess Corporation .