Ronn Torossian
Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian has resigned as CEO of 5W Public Relations after various reports that he secretly owned a news site and used it to hammer competitive firms.

“I have become a distraction and the team deserves the freedom to operate in a context-free of noise—noise I personally created,” he wrote in an internal memo acquired by O’Dwyer’s.

Torossian will serve as chairman of the New York-based firm that he founded in 2002.

Long-time staffers Dara Busch and Matt Caiola will lead the firm as co-CEOS.

Busch joined 5W seven years ago from Rubenstein Public Relations and heads the consumer practice.

Caiola is a 13-year veteran and handles 5W’s corporate, technology and digital marketing groups.

They will be responsible for employee relations, client management, and day-to-day decisions of the agency.

Torossian has no interest in selling the firm. “5W is thriving – we have no debt, we are profitable, and are growing. We have zero interest in selling,” he wrote.

5W holds the No. 11 spot in O’Dwyer’s rankings of independent firms with 2020 fees of $38.1M.