Tarak Mehta Takes the Helm at Timken: A New Era for the Industrial Motion Pioneer

Tarak Mehta has officially assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR), bringing two decades of industrial leadership experience to the historic 125-year-old engineered bearings and motion solutions provider. Mehta’s appointment also extends to the company’s Board of Directors, marking a significant leadership transition at the North Canton, Ohio-based technology firm.

The Strategic Leadership Transition

The Timken Company’s Board of Directors finalized Mehta’s transition in September 2024, following an extensive leadership search process announced earlier in the year. His predecessor, Richard G. Kyle, who guided the organization through a transformative decade as CEO, is transitioning to an advisory capacity to support continuity. Kyle’s tenure concludes with a planned retirement in February 2025, though he will maintain his position on Timken’s Board. “I’m thrilled to join this organization and engage with our global workforce, customer base and stakeholders to explore avenues for strengthening profitability and sustaining positive momentum,” Mehta stated upon taking office.

Mehta’s Industry Pedigree

Before joining Timken, Mehta spent 26 years at ABB—the $32 billion multinational authority in electrification and automation technology. Within ABB’s leadership structure, he served as a member of the Group Executive Committee and helmed the Motion business division. His track record demonstrates proficiency in strategic planning, global team development, and operational efficiency—qualities the board deemed essential for Timken’s next chapter.

Timken’s Market Position and Vision

Under Kyle’s stewardship, Timken demonstrated robust expansion and strategic evolution. The company generated $4.8 billion in revenue during 2023 and maintains operations across 45 nations with a workforce exceeding 19,000 professionals. Timken’s product portfolio spans next-generation engineered bearing solutions and industrial motion systems serving diverse sectors. John M. Timken Jr., Chairman of the Board, expressed confidence in Mehta’s ability to build upon this foundation: “Tarak’s extensive expertise and business acumen position him to advance our strategic objectives and honor our engineering legacy. We are confident he will lead us through a period of sustainable growth.”

Mehta’s immediate priorities include collaborating with Timken’s leadership team to identify innovation opportunities centered on customer requirements and operational advancement. His vision emphasizes accelerating profitable expansion while leveraging the organization’s 125-year foundation in reliability engineering.

Recognition and Organizational Strength

The Timken Company has earned widespread industry recognition, including designations as one of Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Companies and America’s Most Responsible Companies, Fortune’s America’s Most Innovative Companies, and Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies®. The organization also ranks among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Companies to Work For and Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity—indicators of institutional strength that Mehta inherits as he shapes the company’s strategic direction.