Pete Thomas has returned to his former position as CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he has been in charge of the agency’s national political communications operations.
The Chamber announced the news Monday, in a statement to CNN.
The announcement came just days after Thomas announced he was taking a leave of absence from the post to care for his daughter, the company said.
He said he was in a “state of shock” and is “shocked by the sudden announcement.”
Thomas’ announcement came after a day in which the Chamber announced it had reached a $3 billion settlement with the Justice Department in a case over how it manages and monitors foreign lobbying.
The company also announced that Thomas would serve on the board of directors of a nonprofit called the Chamber of Enterprise.
Thomas has been a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, a frequent critic of the Republican establishment.
He previously served as a top aide to Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.
He was also a longtime critic of Trump’s former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who was charged in a sexual assault lawsuit with assaulting a female reporter.
Thomas’ departure comes just two months after he said he had resigned as president of the Chamber due to an illness.
The new company, called Entrepreneurs in Spanish, will be managed by Thomas, who previously served on the boards of the Washington Chamber of Business and the National Association of Manufacturers.
Thomas said he decided to take a leave to care to his daughter after his daughter became ill with cancer.
“I was in an extremely difficult time.
The news of the illness and the cancer diagnosis has affected my family, my team, my friends and me,” Thomas said in a tweet.
“I am very thankful for the support of our team.
I am grateful for the outpouring of support and the support I have received from the Chamber and its staff.”