Richard Kyle

Interim President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Timken

Search every verified Richard Kyle interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a November 2025 interview with DA Man Caliber, Richard Kyle discussed his personal approach to watch collecting, describing it as subjective and based on individual taste. He noted that collectors may be drawn to watches for reasons including investment strategy, materials, craftsmanship, or the watchmaking process. Kyle highlighted the sentimental value of a watch he was wearing, which belonged to his father and was passed to him after his father retired. He stated that collecting watches has not changed his notion of value or personal morals, adding that any watch tells time and that choosing a timepiece for an occasion is a personal choice that contributes to the moment. In a 2015 presentation to the Bearing Specialists Association, Kyle emphasized the importance of strong manufacturer-distributor relationships, describing them as critical to long-term success and built on trust, transparency, and shared goals. He outlined Timken's business model, which focuses on technology, the aftermarket, fragmentation, and service, and stated that the company is heavily investing in relationships through people, product, service, and systems. Kyle argued that technology does not diminish the importance of human contact and relationships in business, and that the human element remains a key part of the value distributors provide.