CANTON, Ohio, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) today announced that Jacqueline A. Dedo has joined the company as president - Automotive and an officer of the company. She will report to James W. Griffith, president and CEO, and will have responsibility for the company's global $1.4 billion Automotive Group.

"We are delighted that Jacqui is joining our team. She is a talented and accomplished leader," said Mr. Griffith. "Jacqui has an impressive track record of achievement in the global automotive industry. I know she will drive the strategy for profitable growth in our Automotive business."

An automotive veteran of more than 20 years, Mrs. Dedo joins Timken from Motorola, where she was corporate vice president and general manager of Global Market Operations for the Automotive Communications and Electronic Systems Group in Detroit. She previously spent 15 years as an executive with Bosch automotive, both in Michigan and Stuttgart, Germany, where she held a number of senior sales, marketing and technical positions.

Mrs. Dedo earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Kettering University in Flint, Mich., formerly known as General Motors Institute (GMI). She and her family will be relocating from Detroit to Canton.

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR, www.timken.com) is a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered bearings and alloy steels and a provider of related products and services with operations in 29 countries. The company recorded 2003 sales of $3.8 billion and employed approximately 26,000 at year-end.

Media Contact: Denise L. Bowler, Manager - Communications Planning & Integration, (330) 471-3485

Investor Contact: Kevin R. Beck, Manager - Investor Relations, (330) 471-7181