Timken Announces Management and Board Changes

CANTON, Ohio, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR; www.timken.com) announced today that the Board of Directors has named Richard G. Kyle as president and chief executive officer of the company, effective immediately. The board also elected John M. Timken, Jr. as chairman following today's annual meeting of shareholders.

Kyle replaces James W. 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, 2014, to assist with the leadership transition and oversee the spinoff of TimkenSteel Corporation 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," John Timken said. "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 Company."

John Timken's role as non-executive chairman of the board is a change to Timken corporate governance. Ward J. "Tim" Timken, Jr., who had been executive chairman since 2005, will serve as chairman, chief executive officer and president of the new TimkenSteel Corporation, 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 Company 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
In other matters of business conducted at today's annual meeting, the Company also announced that shareholders elected the following directors to new one-year terms:

• Phillip R. Cox
• Diane C. Creel
• Richard G. Kyle
• John A. Luke, Jr.
• Christopher L. Mapes
• Joseph W. Ralston
• John P. Reilly
• Frank C. Sullivan
• John M. Timken, Jr.
• Ward J. Timken, Jr.
• Jacqueline F. 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," John Timken said.

About The Timken Company
The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR; www.timken.com), a global industrial technology leader, applies its deep knowledge of materials, friction management and power transmission to improve the reliability and efficiency of industrial machinery and equipment all around the world.  The company engineers, manufactures and markets mechanical components and high-performance steel.  Timken® bearings, engineered steel bars and tubes—as well as transmissions, gearboxes, chain, related products and services—support diversified markets worldwide.  With sales of $4.3 billion in 2013 and approximately 19,000 people operating from 28 countries, Timken makes the world more productive and keeps industry in motion.

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SOURCE The Timken Company