Stephen Ruch Email & Phone Number

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Us

Birmingham, Al, Us

New York, New York, Us

Paladin Solutions Group (PSG) is a professional-services firm that offers highly specialized services to the global financial services industry, as well as, the Payments and Financial Technology industries. As Managing Principal, in addition to full P&L responsibility, I am accountable for building, growing, leading and staffing PSG’s Payments & FinTech Management Consulting Practice and capabilities. These responsibilities include but are not limited to: Business Development Leader; Business Relationship Management Lead for all strategic accounts; Recruitment, hiring and staffing for Management Consulting practice; Resource allocation and the Design and delivery of solutions.

Lisle, Illinois, Us

Clark Brands is a privately held company that provides Payment Processing and Branding solutions in the Petroleum industry. In my role as President and CEO I was responsible for developing and leading the growth strategy for all facets of the business. I had full P&L responsibility and was tasked with ensuring the company achieved its strategic, growth and financial targets.

Purchase, Ny, Us

Led a team comprised of 48 employees and 9 direct reports and directly managed the Regional Franchise Development teams in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Canada, Asia/Pacific and the Middle East and Africa. Accountable for the integration of the Regional teams into the Regions by developing solid working relationships with the Regional Leadership and ensuring the team’s goals, objectives, priorities and daily activities were aligned with those of the regional businesses. This included ownership of rules development on a regional basis in order to integrate local market goals, priorities and objectives.Responsible for developing and driving the global strategy for new business initiatives throughout Franchise development, with oversight responsibility for Strategy, Education & Planning; Licensing, Registrations and Brand Standards on a global basis. Provided thought leadership and direction with respect to fundamental issues such as eligibility requirements, performance standards, risk management and licensing strategies. Directly responsible for driving the change necessary to enable business, identify issue related to new growth opportunities and to enhance the organization’s ability to respond to the increasing volume and complexity of franchise issues. Led Franchise Development’s efforts to create synergies and maximize efficiencies through a combination of reengineering existing manual processes and functions, systems automation and redeploying human capital to other, more customer focused activities. Increased local decision-making within the regions in order to enhance business development opportunities and manage customer relationships.

Kansas City, Mo, Us

Led the merchant acquiring division with full P&L responsibility for a $26MM strategic business unit consisting of over 14,000 merchants and annual processing volume of over $7.5 Billion. Led a team of 60+ employees and was directly responsible for developing and implementing the long and short term strategic plans for all aspects of the business. Sphere of responsibilities included: strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, business development, relationship management, customer service, on-boarding, underwriting, risk, compliance, technical support, vendor management and product development.

Turin, Piedmont, It

Responsible for the development and implementation of the business line strategy and profitable sales growth of CNH Capital’s Private Label Credit Card (issuing and acquiring) business, Consumer Finance, Insurance and Partner Programs businesses on a national basis. Led efforts related to product development, process improvement and sales delivery for the revolving accounts and Ag Financial Solutions businesses. Responsible for managing and optimizing outsourced business and technology partners, as well as, directing a team of Product Managers, Conversion Managers and Product Specialists to support CNH Capital’s high growth revolving accounts business.Products included: Private Label Credit Cards (Commercial and Consumer), Retail Loans and Leases; Wholesale Financing; Insurance; Agricultural Input Financing and Asset Remarketing.

Held several positions of increasing responsibility over 16 years with FTPS that enabled me to cultivate a broad and deep knowledge and expertise in Merchant Acquiring and Financial Institution services. Areas of proven leadership and expertise include: sales, sales management, account management, product development, process improvement, technical conversions and technical support.AVP, RETAIL SALES DIRECTOR & OPERATIONS MANAGER - 2003 - 2006Responsible for development and implementation of business line strategy for the retail merchant services sales channel. Partnered with the Retail Banking Division to re-engineer the sales channel and roll out sales strategies, tactics and responsibilities to over 1,100 Banking Centers Managers. Formed critical partnerships designed to influence the daily sales behaviors of Banking Center personnel in order to meet stated goals and objectives.AVP & COMMERCIAL MERCHANT SALES MANAGER - 2001 – 2003Responsible for the profitable sales growth of the mid-market merchant acquiring business on a Regional basis. Led a team of 17 Sales Representatives in 5 Bancorp markets and 3 remote markets. AVP, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS (FRANCHISE & ASSOCIATION SALES) - 1998 - 2001Responsible for the profitable sales growth of the Strategic Partnership business on a national basis. Brought together previously fractured sales efforts and developed corporate wide sales strategies and policies related to the Franchise, Association and Strategic Partner sales channel. Led the related sales efforts of a team of 58 sales professionals on a national basis.1996 – 1998 ~ Mid-Market Account Officer1995 – 1996 ~ EFT Account Executive1993 – 1995 ~ EFT Conversion Consultant1992 – 1993 ~ ATM Operations Manager1990 – 1992 ~ Network Control Operator

Bachelor Of Science, Marketing And Information Systems

Education record