U.S. Chamber Names Thomas J. Collamore Senior Vice President for Communications and Strategy

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has named Thomas J. Collamore as its Senior Vice President for Communications and Strategy and Counselor to the President. Collamore was most recently the Vice President, Corporate Public Affairs of Altria Group Inc. and the Chief Operating Officer of the Friends for Fred Thompson Committee.

"At its core, the Chamber is a communications organization. We take on the big issues that are critical to the future of the U.S. economy, and we drive public debate and political action," said U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue. "Tom's background in Washington and the business world makes him a perfect choice to push our communications and public education efforts to an entirely new level."

Collamore will be responsible for all Chamber communications, including media outreach, web strategy, paid media, publications, member interface and branding. In addition, he will directly advise senior management on long-term strategy and political engagement.

"The business community creates jobs and drives the economic vitality of this country," Donohue said. "Tom will be tasked with getting the message out about the importance of a strong business environment and our need, as a nation, to address long-standing issues such as infrastructure investment, immigration, health care, entitlement reform, education, energy, and legal reform."

Collamore spent 14 years with Altria, where he was responsible for the strategy, direction, and management of the company's public policy, public affairs, charitable and political giving programs, and its outreach to external stakeholders. In his role with the Thompson Committee, he was responsible for creating a strategy, organization, and infrastructure to allow Sen. Thompson to launch a campaign for President.

Collamore previously served as Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the George H.W. Bush Administration. He also served in the White House on Vice President Bush's senior staff from 1985 to 1989. From 1981 to 1985, Collamore was Special Assistant to Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige, where he was the Secretary's advisor on Cabinet Affairs and White House Liaison. He received the Commerce Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Federal Service in 1985.

A native of Connecticut, Collamore graduated from Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, where he serves on the Board of Trustees, and graduated magna cum laude from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, where he previously served on the Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Board of Visitors.

Collamore will formally assume his new responsibilities on October 1.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

# # #

07-149