BREAKING: @ChamberFlack Fielder Moving to Switzerland

First reported in National Journal’s “Influence Alley”, J.P. Fielder (@ChamberFlack) is trading digs across from the White House for a spot across the street from Lake Geneva as one of the Chamber of Commerce's best known spinmeisters is leaving Big Business for Big Tobacco. The Chamber's senior director of communications is heading to Lausanne, Switzerland to work on global regulatory communications for Philip Morris International (PMI).

Fielder joined the Chamber in March 2008, and since that time he ran the media team, the international portfolio, president Tom Donohue's press and helped former SVP Bill Miller run its $50 million political program. At PMI, Fielder will be doing regulatory communication campaigns in every time zone.

"This is a chance to look beyond the Beltway and turn the telescope around and look out at the entire globe in the way I do communications," said Fielder. 

After four years at the Chamber, Fielder will say goodbye Feb. 16. Prior to joining the business lobby, he worked at the National Association of Manufacturers, PR Newswire and (little known fact) as an actual journalist with Tribune Broadcasting.

The coolest part about the move for him and fiancé Kelly DiNardo? 

"Being able to take Kelly to Paris in three hours on a train or being able to head out 40 minutes and be skiing in the French Alps," he said, noting that they were both just fitted for new skis. 

Not that he's rubbing it in. (National Journal’s “Influence Alley”)