Consumer & Retail Executive Insights: On the Board Agenda for 2025

As Board Director - Macy’s, Head of Google’s New York Office, Torrence drives Google’s strategy and multi-billion dollar business across a portfolio of the world’s largest global advertisers, spanning the tech, health/beauty and CPG verticals. In this capacity, he leads a team focused on global strategic partnerships that deploy diverse Google products to achieve business transformation and breakthrough marketing results. Torrence also co-leads Google’s New York office, the second largest in the network.

Prior to Google, Torrence held executive positions with WPP, Publicis and Bain. He received a B.A. in Economics, with honors, from Stanford, and a M.B.A. from Harvard. He serves on the board of Macy’s, Inc. and The Partnership for New York.

At Archer Daniels Midland Debra serves as a member of the audit, and nominating and corporate governance committees. She is also a member of the board of directors of Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., where she serves as a member of the remuneration and nominating committee; Dollar General Corporation, where she serves as chair of the nominating and governance committee and as a member of the audit committee; and Gannett Co., Inc., where she serves as the chair of the transformation committee and a member of the nominating/corporate governance committee. She is also a member of the board of advisors of Pharmavite, LLC, a board member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), a trustee of Hofstra University, and a member of the Executive Leadership Council.

Debra is president and CEO of La Grenade Group, LLC, a business consultancy that serves packaged goods companies operating in the health and wellness space. She also serves as a Partner at Trewstar Corporate Board Services, a boutique search firm dedicated to improving diversity in the board room.

She was also the founder of Mavis Foods, LLC, an entrepreneurial startup of Caribbean sauces and marinades.

Previously she worked in senior leadership roles at PepsiCo, Johnson & Johnson and Mars. She is the former chief health and wellbeing officer at Mars, after serving there as president of Mars Chocolate North America. She is best known for her work as worldwide president of McNeil Nutritionals (a division of J&J) where she led the global launch of Splenda no calorie sweetener.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Trade from Hofstra University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Gisel Ruiz is a distinguished leader in the retail industry, currently serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Ulta Beauty. With a career spanning over two decades, Gisel has been instrumental in shaping and implementing strategic initiatives that drive business growth and enhance employee engagement. Her leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the HACR Corporate Award for Advancing Hispanic Inclusion and the Women of Color STEM Conference Corporate Leadership Award. Gisel is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, actively participating in organizations that promote Hispanic community advocacy and women's leadership.