CANTON, Ohio – The Timken Co. announced today that its board of directors has named Richard Kyle as president and CEO of the company, effective immediately. The board also elected John Timken Jr. as chairman following today’s annual meeting of shareholders.
Kyle replaces James Griffith, who became president of Timken in 1999 and chief executive officer in 2002. Griffith is retiring from the company this year and did not stand for re-election as a director. He will remain with the company until June 30, to assist with the leadership transition and oversee the spinoff of TimkenSteel Corp. as an independent publicly traded entity.
"We thank Jim Griffith for his 30 years of service to the company and wish him all the best in his retirement," said John Timken. "As Jim’s successor, Rich Kyle is the right person to lead our strong management team and outstanding global organization as we pursue our growth strategy for The Timken Co."
John Timken’s role as non-executive chairman of the board is a change to Timken corporate governance. Ward "Tim" Timken Jr., who had been executive chairman since 2005, will serve as chairman, CEO and president of the new TimkenSteel Corp., and will remain a director on the Timken board.
Kyle began his career at Timken in 2006 as vice president of manufacturing and was named president of the aerospace and mobile industries segments in 2008. In 2012, Kyle was named group president, responsible for the aerospace and steel segments as well as the engineering and technology organization. He was named chief operating officer of the company in September 2013, and has been a director since November 2013.
John Timken is a private investor and entrepreneur and has participated in a number of successful ventures in a variety of industries. He joined the board in 1986 and has played a major role in the company’s strategic drive to add product lines that complement its bearing product portfolio, including its acquisition of The Torrington Co. in 2003.
Tim Timken began his career in 1992 in the company’s steel business. He was elected to the board in 2002, and served as vice chairman and president of the steel business prior to being named chairman of the company in 2005.
Annual Meeting Results
At today’s annual meeting, the company also announced that shareholders elected the following directors to new one-year terms:
* Phillip Cox
* Diane Creel
* Richard Kyle
* John Luke Jr.
* Christopher Mapes
* Joseph Ralston
* John Reilly
* Frank Sullivan
* John Timken Jr.
* Ward Timken Jr.
* Jacqueline Woods
Shareholders also supported the company’s 2013 "Say-on-Pay" vote, ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditor and voted against a shareholder proposal requiring that the chair be an independent member of the board.
"We thank our shareholders for their support and ongoing interest in the company. We have a strong, independent board that remains focused on continuing to generate value in the best interests of our shareholders," said John Timken.
