The Timken Company has named Richard G. Kyle to head its fast-growing Aerospace and Defense Segment. He also will continue to lead the company’s Mobile Industries Segment as he assumes the new position of president – mobile industries and aerospace. Each segment will continue to maintain separate public financial reporting. Kyle replaces J. Ron Menning, who has been named senior vice president – Asia Pacific.
“Over the last decade, Timken has successfully launched new products, acquired new capabilities and expanded geographically to become a leader in friction management and power transmission in aerospace, defense and positioning control,” said Michael C. Arnold, executive vice president and president – bearings and power transmission group, in making the announcement. “Rich will continue a concentration on both performance and growth with a focus on bringing value to both customers in those markets and our shareholders.”
Reporting to Kyle are two market sector executives: Erik A. Paulhardt, who has held several leadership positions in the business, will assume the role of vice president – aerospace and defense; and Maureen F. Curtiss, general manager – health and positioning control, will continue in her role leading that business.
Prior to serving as president – mobile industries, Kyle served as vice president – manufacturing, responsible for managing the Bearings and Power Transmission Group’s global bearing manufacturing operations. Kyle joined Timken in 2006 as vice president of manufacturing for the company’s former Industrial Group.
Before joining Timken, Kyle served as vice president of operations for a division of Hubbell, Inc. Prior to joining Hubbell, he served in a variety of management positions for Cooper Industries.
Kyle received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in management from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Paulhardt has held various leadership positions at Timken since 1986. Most recently, he led the company's global rail business. Prior to that, he served as general manager of the company's health and positioning control team. Based in Keene, N.H., Paulhardt led the team's successful transition from a focus on products to full market offerings.
He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts and a master's degree in business administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.