Founders Bios

Ronald S. Torch

Founder, President and CEO

Ronald S. Torch, a classically trained brand manager and marketing strategist, serves as the firm's President and CEO. After establishing the firm in 1990 in Stamford, Connecticut, Ron has led the growth and diversification of the Torch Group from a marketing consulting firm to a nationally recognized executive search and staffing firm that delivers marketing, sales and executive talent to Fortune 500 corporations, small-to-mid-sized businesses, advertising & marketing agencies and non-profit organizations throughout North America.

Prior to starting the Torch Group, Ron held executive marketing and sales positions in Fortune 500 foodservice and consumer packaged goods businesses and agencies in the New York City area. Throughout his career, Mr. Torch has created award-winning marketing campaigns that include Seagram's Wine Coolers on-premise promotions, Pepsi-Cola Food Service local market programs, A.1. Steak Sauce back-of-the-house and table-top restaurant advertising and Grey Poupon Mustard "Rolls Royce" advertising.

In order to better serve their clients evolving needs, in 1999, Ron began transforming Torch Group from a marketing consulting practice to a highly-specialized search and staffing firm that provides executive search, marketing consulting and interim staffing services to clients in all industries.

During this transitional period, Torch Group recorded record sales growth and received the prestigious Weatherhead 100 Award for exceptional growth three years in a row.

Torch holds an M.B.A. in marketing from Indiana University's Kelly School of Business, graduating with Honors and being named "Outstanding M.B.A." He was past chairman of the Promotion Marketing Association's New York Chapter, and received a Gold Effie for his breakthrough A.1. Steak Sauce Foodservice and Grey Poupon advertising. Ron currently serves as a trusted advisor to many companies and serves on the Board of Directors for DanceCleveland where he was an officer and Chairman of the Marketing Committee.

Michele Torch

Founder, EVP and Chief Talent Officer

Michele Torch is the firm's Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer. In this role, Michele is responsible for assuring that each client only receive candidates that fit all of the job requirements with the right set of soft skills to mesh well in their culture.

To accomplish this, Michele directs the firm's comprehensive recruiting process and manages Torch Group's staff of account managers, executive recruiters, researchers and coordinators. She also conducts in-depth, competency-based behavioral interviews. Ms. Torch also has management responsibility for internal hiring, training, policy making and staff development.

During her tenure with the Torch Group, Michele has interviewed and placed hundreds of executive level professionals including CEO's, COO's, CFO's, CMO's and SVP's in a vast range of food service, marketing, sales and communications roles.

Before joining the Torch Group, Michele was a senior human resources manager at KeyCorp responsible for recruiting and employee policies and strategies. Prior to that, she spent 13 years in executive human resources positions in Fortune 500 companies, including Duracell, Inc., James River Corporation, Guinness Import Company and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Michele's accomplishments include starting the human resources department at the Guinness Import Company and recruiting all on-premise sales and marketing positions, staffing a new technology division at Duracell, recruiting, training and organizational development at James River including their food service division and developing HR strategies and programs for the corporate staff at KeyCorp.

Michele holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology with a concentration in organizational development from the State University of New York at Albany and a Masters' degree from Adelphi University in New York.

Call us at 440-519-1822