Engage Richard Torrenzano as a Keynote Speaker to Help You “Command the Conversation”
Inquire or Book Richard Torrenzano as Keynote Speaker
Speaking Topics
Following are some recent speaking topics:
Artificial Intelligence
“Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
No longer fiction. Influence can now be synthesized, and perception shaped at scale. The risk isn’t fear — it’s miscalculation. Companies ignoring AI, cyber, and digital shift will become irrelevant.
Cyber-Attacks and Reputation
AI is capable of fabricating any reality whatsoever … the stakes are colossal
AI creates fake people, events, and content that feel more authentic than reality. The emphasis is on isolating the epistemic threat The consequence is not confusion or noise — it’s a systemic collapse in how we verify information and define truth.
Greatest Threat to Business — AI and Cyber Attacks
AI is a weapon: impersonating leaders, spoofing data, corrupting systems. The focus must shift to the operational and strategic threat. The danger is no longer system failure — it’s misinformed decisions at the highest levels due to synthetic precision.
Digital Assassination: Protecting Your Reputation, Brand, or Business Against Online Attacks
The threat isn’t synthetic content or operational interference — it’s the weaponization of false narratives that move faster than facts, damaging credibility, valuation, and trust before companies can respond. Reputation as a vulnerability must be addressed.
Crisis & Reputation
You’re in the News; Actually, You Are the News…Now What?
When attention turns hostile, leaders lose the luxury of narrative control. In today’s media cycle, what’s first is what sticks — true or not. Believability, not accuracy, defines the fallout.
Meltdown: Managing a Corporate Crisis
Crises rarely start with explosions. They begin in silence. Delay between knowing and acting is what causes damage. In this climate, response speed equals reputation. Silence reads as strategy.
Seven Sins of Crisis Mismanagement
Crisis leadership fails not from bad plans — but bad behavior. Arrogance, secrecy, and rigidity magnify damage. In an always-on world, leaders are judged by clarity, consistency, and composure — not the crisis itself.
Conference or Offsite Game Changer – Global or American Discussion
This is a dynamic, interactive and humorous 60-to-90-minute session consisting of six to eight preselected panelists, each playing a specific role in discussing a problem-solving issue, current event, crisis or specific situation.
Everyone gains an enhanced understanding of public decisions or views on an issue, topic, industry, company or organization. Entertaining and informative, this interactive program is for audiences of 100 to 5000.
As the scenario unfolds, Richard spices up the discussion based on news, historical events and professional experience.
Speaking Testimonials About Richard
“Richard Torrenzano was chief spokesman for The New York Stock Exchange for almost a decade, through bull markets and crashes, Wall Street scandals and countless mergers and acquisitions, as well as momentous regulatory actions. At times, he received more airtime on CNN than I did. He is a dynamic speaker, insightful, humorous and adroit at fielding tough media questions.” – Myron Kandel, CNN founding financial editor
“Rich Torrenzano brings a wealth of communications and management experience to any audience hopeful of gaining insights on the “how to’s” when facing adversarial or extraordinary circumstances. His NYSE crisis management during months surrounding the largest single day decline in the stock market’s history, when the market dropped 22%, gives him a unique perspective on what to do when there is no previous experience to draw from. Rich delivers analysis and insights through stories which are enormously valuable, no matter the industry or challenges faced…… and does so in a manner that is spellbinding.” – Richard A. Grasso, retired, longest serving chairman & chief executive officer, New York Stock Exchange in NYSE 225 Year History
Characterizing Richard Torrenzano speaking at a Forbes conference …”Who is to public speaking what Faberge was to the Arts!” – Steve Forbes
“Richard Torrenzano is one of the reputation experts who understands cyber security and smartly addresses dystopian trends attacking the corporate and geopolitical spheres. To combat the kind of enemies that lie in wait, Torrenzano highlights remedies that pack a decisive punch. Through insightful commentary and cogent application of data analytics he unpacks strategies and counter strategies necessary to survive and compete in today’s global marketplace.” – Jeffrey Cunningham, former publisher of Forbes magazine, editor-at-large of Chief Executive magazine
“There are many great corporate speakers. Richard Torrenzano is the winner at the top of this list. He differentiates because he carefully plans, tailors and delivers each presentation for the specific audience. He personifies motivational excellence. I have seen him on many occasions present to top business leaders, as well as astute financial executives, managing complex and political issues with ease, humor and delivering lasting ideas and tools they can immediately apply to business. He was always invited back to our conferences because he always received top ratings.” – Michael Jones, retired chief operating officer, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), former senior executive vice president, NASDAQ and NASD
“Richard Torrenzano is a captivating speaker, telling stories based on his broad experience and presented with a contagious energy that creates a remarkable level of audience engagement. He is one of the most sought-after experts, leading commentators and writers on brands, crisis, media, reputation and today’s cyber risks. I have seen him design and deliver presentations for large audiences, as well as corporate off sights.” – Cono Fusco, former Strategic Managing Partner, Grant Thornton
“Richard Torrenzano has had a long history of speaking in London at board and FTSE C-suite level. His style of presenting uncomfortable facts encourages and engages active participation is unique. He bridges the gap on issues that require – comprehensive and incisive analysis even where there is controversy.” – Patrick O’Sullivan, retired chairman, Old Mutual Plc and Saga Plc
Published Bylined Articles & Media Interviews
He is a sought-after expert and leading commentator on financial markets, Artificial Intelligence, brands, crisis, media, and reputation. Richard co-authored the bestselling, award winning and game change book- Digital Assassination: Protecting Your Reputation, Brand or Business from Online Attacks.
Game Changing Books
He co-authored the bestselling, award-winning book, Digital Assassination: Protecting Your Reputation, Brand, or Business Against Online Attacks, published by St. Martin’s Press.
The book coined the phrase ‘Digital Assassination’ and offers a roadmap to what is happening online, why it is happening and what you can do about it.
It reveals how digital attacks can ruin brands, damage reputations and endanger lives. It exposes strategies digital assassins and trolls deploy and defines ways to turn the tables on their deception.
His new leadership and crisis eBook, launch in May 2025, Command the Conversation: Next Level Communications Techniques, offers leading edge ideas on managing reputation and brand tailored for diverse leaders in a rapidly evolving cyber environment.
The book’s forward is by Dick Grasso, longest serving New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) chairman and chief executive officer.
Each episode is a bylined article previously featured in Fortune, Corporate Counsel Business Journal (CCBJ), Directors and Boards, and Directorship Magazine, published by the National Association of Corporate Directors(NACD).