The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Torchbearer \Torch"bear`er\, n.
   One whose office it is to carry a torch.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

torchbearer
    n 1: a leader in a campaign or movement

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

24 Moby Thesaurus words for "torchbearer":
   Mahdi, bell cow, bell mare, bellwether, born leader,
   charismatic leader, choirmaster, choragus, conductor, coryphaeus,
   duce, file leader, forerunner, fugleman, inspired leader, leader,
   leader of men, messiah, pacemaker, pacesetter, precentor,
   ringleader, standard-bearer, symphonic conductor