Maxim Behar, PhD is a globally recognized public relations and communications expert, a well-known public speaker, and book author. He actively contributes to developing public communications, leadership, and business across numerous countries. His presentations and lectures on modern PR, leadership, and social media are attended by tens of thousands at universities, forums, conferences, and high-level meetings in dozens of countries.
Born in Shumen in 1955, he was named an Honorary Citizen of the city in 2005. He speaks Bulgarian, English, Czech, Polish, and Russian.
Maxim is a former President of the International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO) (2015-2017) and currently serves as the President of the World Communication Forum Association (WCFA), headquartered in Davos, Switzerland.
He completed studies at Harvard Kennedy School and universities in Prague, Seattle, London, and Yokohama.
In 2024, Maxim obtained a PhD in the professional field of "Public Communications and Information Sciences (Media and Communications - Public Relations)" at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski."
Maxim is the only Eastern European to be inducted into the Global PR Hall of Fame in London and is also listed in the Global PR Power Book by British PRWeek magazine.
Since 2022, he has been selected as a Fellow of the UK's Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), the largest and most prestigious professional PR organization globally, and since 2024, he has been a member of its Educational Advisory Board.
He also sits on the boards of the "Bank of the Year" Association, the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF), and the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria, where he also serves as Vice President. He is also the Vice President and spokesperson for the Association of Honorary Consuls in Bulgaria (AHCB). Maxim is one of the founders and current chairman of the Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce.
A longtime member and, from 2024, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) in Sofia, Maxim also serves on the Advisory Board of ENGAGE.EU, an alliance of leading European universities, including UNWE.
He is a former Chair of the Bulgarian PR Agencies Association (BAPRA) and a current board member.
Maxim is also a Special Ambassador for the African Public Relations Association (APRA) and a Senior Advisor on International Relations to the Chinese Public Relations Association (CIPRA).
His book The Global PR Revolution (2019) is one of the best-selling PR books, and the influential independent book ranking organization BookAuthority ranked it among the top 5 PR books of all time, reaching number one in 2023.
After completing the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, Maxim and his wife Veneta published The Camino Way: Quick, Easy and For Fun (2023), which serves as both a guide and a manual to the journey. Journalist Georgi Milkov called it "a textbook on the Camino."
Maxim's culinary book The Magic of Seychelles Cuisine and Stories from the "Paradise on Earth (2023) was recognized as one of the world's best cookbooks by the international Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in 2023, winning the award for "Best Book on Africa Published Outside Africa."
During COVID-19, Maxim wrote the book The Morning After (2020), a guide for modern leaders and managers during the pandemic. This book has proven highly relevant for business management in the post-pandemic world.
Maxim's book on social media, Generation F (2013), reached fourth place in Amazon sales, while 111 Rules' How to Make It (2009) and Secondary Instinct (2000) became some of the best-selling books in Bulgaria during their respective publishing years.
Maxim is a visionary who dreams of a better, more dynamic, and ethical world. He supports numerous charitable initiatives, such as the Every Child Foundation, which he founded and has been a longtime member of the Advisory Board and Chair of the Board of Trustees.
He is actively working to promote Bulgaria's brand and image abroad. In 2003, together with former Nevada Governor Bob Miller, he founded the largest Bulgarian-American consulting company, Miller & Behar Strategies, which successfully promoted American investments in Bulgaria and provided Bulgarian entrepreneurs with insights into the U.S. business environment.
Maxim is practical and enjoys chatting, surfing the internet, social media, innovative business projects, rock music, technology, travel, meeting new people, tackling new challenges, reading, and writing. He is also passionate about golf, cycling, and skydiving.
One of his favorite life mottos is:
"If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough."
Maxim graduated with a degree in International Economic Relations from the University of Economics in Prague.
In 1999, he completed the Corporate Management Program for Central & East European Countries at the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS), Yokohama Kenshu Center, Japan.
In 2011, he completed training on Modern Business and Leadership from The Pacific Institute, led by Lou Tice.
In 2019, he successfully completed the Executive Program in Leadership Decision Making at the Harvard Kennedy School. Later that same year, he completed the Official Certified Educational Course on Modern Diplomacy from the University of London.
In 2024, Maxim obtained a PhD in the professional field of "Public Communications and Information Sciences (Media and Communications - Public Relations)" at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski."
In 1981, while still a student, he began his career as a journalist in Bulgaria, writing for the university newspaper of UNWE.
During his studies in Prague, he became an editor at the popular Czech magazine Young World. He then worked in the international department of the Bulgarian newspaper Workers' Deed, for which he later became a correspondent in Shumen.
From 1989 to 1991, he was a correspondent for the newspaper "Word" in Warsaw, where he interviewed the prominent politicians and economists responsible for Poland's economic transition after the fall of the Soviet regime.
In 1991, he became the first foreign journalist to report from Vilnius, Lithuania, during the Soviet Union's invasion on January 13 in an attempt to annex the country once again.
In 1992, Maxim co-founded the newspaper Standard along with journalist Valeri Zapryanov and publisher Krasimir Stoychev, serving as its Deputy Editor-in-Chief until 1995.
In 1994, Maxim founded M3 Communications Group, Inc., now a leader in public communications and media relations in Bulgaria, where he serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board. Since 2000, the company has been a partner of the global networkHill & Knowlton. M3 Communications Group, Inc.'s clients include globally renowned companies across various sectors, such as energy, finance, technology, real estate, and consumer goods.
From 2001 to 2007, Maxim was the Chairman of the Board of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF). From 2009 to 2012, he served as Vice President of the organization and remains a board member to this day.
In 2004, M3 Communications Group, Inc. founded M3 College – the only private, fully licensed PR and marketing college in Bulgaria, where Maxim is the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
In 2005, Maxim became the first Bulgarian member of the American Public Relations Society.
Since 2006, Maxim has been appointed Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Seychelles in Bulgaria. Since 2014, he has been Vice President of the "Friends of Seychelles" Association for Europe. In 2017, he became a member of the board of the James Michel Foundation, founded by former Seychelles President James Michel, which focuses on sustainability and climate change. That same year, he became Chairman of the International Board of Trustees of the Sir James Mancham International Centre for Peace Studies and Diplomacy.
In 2007, he lectured at Kellogg's School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago on the changes in Eastern Europe.
From 2009 to 2011, he served as Chair of the Bulgarian PR Agencies Association (BAPRA) board and currently remains a member.
In 2010, he was appointed Treasurer and member of the Executive Board of the International Communications Consultancy Organization (ICCO) until 2013, when he became Vice President and a member of the Executive committee. From 2015 to 2017, he served as the organization's Global President. Currently, he serves as International Growth Chair.
In 2017, he was inducted into the Global PR Hall of Fame in London, recognizing his long-standing professional activities in the PR business worldwide and his successful term as President of ICCO.
From 2012 to 2017, he was the Executive Director of Hill & Knowlton's Czech office.
In 2016, he was appointed to the Advisory Board of the World PR Museum in New York until 2023.
Since 2018, Maxim has been a board member of the Malta-Bulgaria Chamber of Commerce.
In 2019, he was elected Chair of the PR and Media Committee of the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC).
In 2024, he was elected the first Chairman of the Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce, of which he is also a co-founder.
Global Ambassador of the Bulgarian Brand in the PR Industry, Brand Building Awards 2024
Аward for longstanding contributions to promoting the Republic of Seychelles and developing diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Seychelles, presented by the President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, Conference of Honorary Consuls of Seychelles 2024
State Medal for diplomatic activity and notable contributions to the development of relations between and the Czech Republic, presented by the Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák on October 29, 2024
Special order for reports covering the Soviet Union invasion in Vilnius, Lithuania on January 13, 1991, presented by the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, on February 16, 2023
"Best PR Professional in Europe," PRWeek, 2020 and 2022
"Best PR Professional in the World," India Public Relations and Corporate Communications Conference and Awards, IPRCCA 2022
"Employer Brand Leader of the Year"– 1st place, Employer Branding Awards by b2b Media, 2020
"ProPR" Award, ProPR 2017
"Business Leader of the Year," Annual b2b Media Awards, 2016
Diplomatic Award for Contribution to Africa, presented by H.E. Vanessa Calvert, Ambassador of South Africa to Bulgaria, 2016
"Best Executive Director for 2015," Stevie Awards 2015
"Manager of the Year," online vote by Bulgarian Manager magazine and bTV, 2012
"Business Communicator of the Decade,"Indian Association of Business Communicators (ABCI), 2012
"Executive Director of the Year" in the "Marketing and PR" category, Stevie Awards 2012
Annual Award for Special Achievements in Business Communications, Economics Magazine, 2005
"Face of Bulgarian Tourism," Leisure and Tourism Magazine, 2004
"Company of the Year" 2024 in the "PR and Communications" category, Bulgaria Business Review and Business Lady Magazines, 2024
"PR Agency of the Year" – 1st place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2024
"Best Agency in Europe (outside the UK)," PRWeek Global Awards 2024
"Brand of the Year," Klatsatsia.bg, 2023
"PR Agency of the Year" – 1st place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2023
"Special Event or Launch" and "Employer Branding" – 2nd place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2022
"PR Agency of the Year in Europe" – 2nd place, "Communications Expert of the Year" – 3rd place, Stevie Awards 2021
"Special Event or Launch" – 1st place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2021
"Network of the Year for Europe, Middle East, and Africa" for Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Annual Global PR Awards by ICCO, 2018
"Agency of the Year" – 1st place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2018
"PR Agency of the Year in Europe" – 3rd place, Stevie Awards 2018
"Internal Communications Campaign" and "Public Affairs Campaign" – 1st place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2017
"Most Creative Office Space," Annual Awards by b2b Media, 2016
"Agency of the Year" and "Innovative Campaign" – 1st place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2016
"PR Agency of the Year for Europe," Stevie Awards 2015
"Communications Campaign of the Year" and "Innovative Campaign" – 3rd place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2014
"Best Communications Campaign in Europe, Middle East, and Africa – BILLA Bulgaria," SABRE Awards 2013
"Best Corporate Website," SABRE Awards 2012
"Superbrand in Bulgaria" for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, Superbrands International, 2012
"Best Consultancy in Eastern Europe," The Holmes Report, 2011
"Agency of the Year" – 1st place, BAPRA Bright Awards 2011
"Best PR Agency in Europe," Stevie Awards 2011
"Best PR Agency in Europe" and "Most Innovative Campaign of the Year for Europe," Stevie Awards 2010
First prize in the "Print Advertisement" contest, Spring '97 Advertising Fair, Plovdiv, 1997