Maxim Behar

Maxim Behar
Born	December 10, 1955 Shumen, Bulgaria
Nationality	Bulgarian and Israeli
Occupation	PR expert, diplomat, journalist

Maxim Behar (Bulgarian: Максим Бехар; Hebrew: מקסים בהר‎) is a Bulgarian businessman of Jewish descent.^[1] He is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of M3 Communications Group, Inc,^[2] a public relations and public affairs company, president of the International Communications Consultancy Organization,^[3] and a frequent speaker^[4] at national and international events. He is also Chairman of the Board of World Communications Forum in Davos.^[5]

Life and career

Journalism

• 1985-1989: Correspondent of Rabotnichesko delo daily in Shumen, Bulgaria.^[6]
• 1989-1991: Correspondent of Rabotnichesko delo daily in Warsaw, Poland.
• 1992-1995: Co-founder of the Standard Daily,^[7] one of the first private daily newspapers in Bulgaria, where he was the Managing Editor.

Businesses

• 1994: Founded M3 Communications Group, Inc.^[2]
• 2003: Co-founder and shareholder, with former Nevada Governor Bob Miller (Nevada governor), of a Bulgarian-American consultancy company Miller & Behar Strategies.^[8]
• 2003: Founder and Chairman of the Board of M3 Communications College,^[9] the first and the only fully licensed college in Bulgaria of Public communication studies, now associated with the Manhattan Institute of Management^[10] in New York.

Education

• 1983: Graduated international economic relations at the Prague Economic University.
• 1999: Graduated the Full Corporate Program of Japanese Style of Management, AOTS,^[11] Yokohama Kenshu Center, Japan.

Executive Positions and Organizational Memberships

• 1997-2000: Board member and Executive Director for the Bulgarian Investment Forum.
• 1999-2012: Member of the Boards of Junior Achievement Bulgaria.^[12]
• 1999-current: Full member of the International Public Relations Association.
• 2001-2007: President of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum.^[13][14]
• 2002-current: Founder and Chairman of the Bulgarian-Polish Business Club.
• 2002-current: Founding member of the Board of Trustees of Every Child Foundation.^[15]
• 2003-2011: Member of the Central Israelite Spiritual Council in Bulgaria.^[16]
• 2005-current: Full member of the Public Relations Society of America^[17]
• 2005-current: Vice-President of the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria.^[18]
• 2012-current: Chairman at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Czech Republic.^[19]

Diplomatic service

• 2004: Appointed as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Seychelles to Bulgaria.^[20]

Controversy

In 2012, it was revealed that Maxim Behar collaborated with the former Committee for State Security.^[21][22] In a number of public appearances, Maxim Behar strongly denied these allegations by stating that he never had "any relations with any of the state security services",^[23] "I've never been part of the state security services",^[24] and "I have relatives in Israel, and several times the Bulgarian police has questioned me if I have had relations with them, which I, sadly, was not allowed to do."^[25]

Awards and recognition

• 2005: Honorary citizen of Shumen^[26]
• 2012: The Bulgarian monthly Economy magazine^[27] presented its yearly award to Maxim Behar for achievements in Business Communications.
• 2012: Named "Manager of the year" in an independent online vote by the Bulgarian Manager magazine and TV Channel bTV.^[28]
• 2012: The Association of Business Communications of India announced Behar as "Communicator of the Decade".^[29]
• 2015: The Gold Stevie Award^[30]

References

1. Greetings from Bulgarian Jewish Leader Maxim Behar
2. "M3 Communications Group, Inc. - The PR Experts". M3bg.com. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
3. "ICCO appoints Maxim Behar as President". iccopr.com. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
4. Annual Globul Forum "Communication on the top"
5. "Bulgaria's Behar Becomes Chairman of Davos' PR Forum". Retrieved 4 September 2015.
6. "Максим и Мила Бехар - 20 години живот по редакциите". segabg.com. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
7. "Информационна агенция Стандарт Нюз и вестник Стандарт - новини, анализи, коментари, интервюта за икономика, бизнес, общество, политика, технологии, спорт, култура, стил, здраве". Standartnews.com. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
8. M3 Communications Group, Inc. "MB Strategies Limited". Millerandbehar.com. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
9. "M3 Communications College". M3college.com. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
10. The Manhattan Institute of Management. "Welcome to the Manhattan Institute of Management". Mimusa.org. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
11. "HIDA - Training Programs - Outline of Management Training". Aots.or.jp. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
12. "JA Bulgaria". Bulgaria.ja-ye.org. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
13. "Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum Honorary Board". Bblf.bg. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
14. "Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum Board". Bblf.bg. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
15. "For Our Children Foundation". detebg.org. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
16. Greetings from Bulgarian Jewish Leader Maxim Behar
17. "Public Relations Resources & PR Tools for Communications Professionals: Public Relations Society of America". PRSA. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
18. "Atlantic Club in Bulgaria Board of Directors". www.atlantic-club.org. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
19. "Hill + Knowlton Strategies - Czech Republic". Hillandknowlton.cz. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
20. M3 Communications Group, Inc. "Consulate of the Republic of Seychelles". Seychelles.bg. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
21. Търсене за Максим Бехар в сайта на комисията за ДС (comdos.bg)
22. Максим Бехар е бил агент на ДС с псевдоним Димо (in Bulgarian)
23. Story at Novinar daily (in Bulgarian)
24. Interview at Nova TV (in Bulgarian)
25. Blitz agency (in Bulgarian)
26. Maxim Behar given the keys to city of Shumen (in Bulgarian)
27. "Информационна агенция Икономика - България, Европа, финанси, новини, интервю, коментари, мнения, анализи, любопитно, акценти". Economymagazine.bg. Retrieved 2012-09-27.
28. "Bulgarian PR Expert Maxim Behar on European Business Awards Jury". Retrieved 4 September 2015.
29. "Association of Business Communicators of India - ABCI". Retrieved 4 September 2015.
30. 2015 Management Awards Category Stevie® Award Winners

External links

• M3 Communications Group