The Timken Company  today announced five leaders of the businesses within its new Bearings and Power Transmission Group. All five will report to Michael C. Arnold, executive vice president and president, Bearings and Power Transmission Group, and will be responsible for improving performance, increasing differentiation and accelerating growth in targeted market sectors.

Timken has appointed Michael J. Connors as president - Process Industries, J. Ron Menning as president - Aerospace and Defense, and Daniel E. Muller as president - Distribution and Services. In Mobile Industries, the company named Peter M. Sproson as vice president - Commercial Transportation Systems, and Kenneth L. Hopkins as vice president - Light Vehicle Systems.

According to the company's press release, Connors joined the company in 1983 as a manufacturing engineer and has held various manufacturing, market and business development positions. Prior to his current position, he served as vice president, industrial equipment.

Menning, who joined Timken in 1983, was previously vice president - aerospace, health and positioning control. He has held several leadership roles at the company and led a major expansion in Timken's aerospace technology, product and services portfolio.

Muller began his career at Timken in 1979 and was most recently vice president - global distribution - sales and marketing. Since taking on that role in 2001, Muller introduced Timken(R) seals, lubricants and related products and services through a global distribution network. Sproson, who was previously vice president - automotive engineering & marketing, began working at Timken in 1978 as a student apprentice in England. In his prior role, he implemented key elements of Timken's automotive restructuring program and improved alignment of the company's engineering capabilities.

Hopkins joined Timken in 2004 to lead innovation and strategy for Timken's Automotive Group. In 2006, he was named vice president for Timken's automotive business in Europe where he focused on improving profitability through a strategy of increasing the differentiation of the company's automotive products.