Senior Vice President and General Counsel

William R. Burkhart is senior vice president and general counsel and an officer of The Timken Company.

He leads a team that provides legal counsel and support for all of Timken’s global business activities, including acquisitions and affiliations.  He also has responsibility for corporate governance, ethics and compliance, as well as global environmental, health and safety programs.

He is a member of the company's executive council.

Burkhart previously served as director – affiliations and acquisitions in Canton, Ohio, and as legal counsel for the company’s operations in Europe, Africa and West Asia.  He joined Timken as an attorney in Canton in 1994, and was named corporate attorney in 1996.  He was named to his current position in 2000.

Prior to joining Timken, Burkhart served as an attorney for Reed Smith LLP, a law firm based in Pittsburgh.

Burkhart is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trustees of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.
 
He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida and a juris doctorate from Harvard University.