He was a top tobacco recipient while in Congress
John Boehner has found a new job.
The former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has been elected to serve on the board of directors of Reynolds American, the parent corporation of the country’s second-largest tobacco company.
Reynolds American announced the move Thursday in a news release, in which it also said Jean-Marc Levy, an executive-in-residence at the IMD Business School in Switzerland would join its board. The company owns cigarette brands like Newport, Camel, Pall Mall and Natural American Spirit.
Boehner, who resigned the speakership and his seat in Congress last fall amid pressure from more conservative House members, will serve on Reynolds American’s corporate governance, nominating and sustainability committees.
The new role makes sense for Boehner, who is a smoker and was among the top recipients of campaign donations from the tobacco industry while in Congress. In the 2010 election cycle, for example, he received nearly $50,000 from people and PACs associated with tobacco companies, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.