Maximov Publications Company's History The idea of creation of directories series has first appeared in the end of 1994. It was a successful symbiosis of the Maxwells'(sons of Robert Maxwell, British media magnate) international publishing experience and Andrey Maximov (orientalist) awareness of the Russian market realities. Founders of the company first met each other when both were in a serious crisis - the Maxwells lost all their multi-billion fortune and were under court with threat of 20 years imprisonment. Andrey Maximov had his first publishing business bankrupted.     Founders of the company: Kevin Maxwell, Andrey Maximov, Ian Maxwell (from left to right)   However, both were ready to start a new business. That's how the idea of creation of business directories with contact information across Russia has appeared on one of the meetings. Similar editions have already been published both in Germany, and in Great Britain. English company Vacher's Parliamentary Companion became the prototype of publishing house. "Maximov Publications" have incorporated all the best from western analogues, but thus founders of the company have taken into account centuries-old Russian experience in releasing of such editions. Very few people knows, that domestic B2B directories have 300-years history (!).The first "Court calendar" was published in 1733 (while in Great Britain such product appeared only in 1848).These directories were released in different formats till 1917 under a brand of Company of A.S.Suvorina. "Maximov Publications" brand confidently dominates on the market of Russian business directories (B2B) at the moment. Thus if initially basic ideas and their realization were controlled from London (for instance, till 1998 books were printed in Oxford), later after 1998 the all the business moved to Russia, so the products are now 100 % Russian. Though Ian Maxwell is still the adviser of the company. Directories The Concept of the first directory "Who governs the Russian Federation" was worked through during half-year, as none in Post Soviet Russia have done it before. As a result the first directory was released in April, 1995. The directory was issued once a half-year, and appendices on parliamentary elections have appeared in 1995 and 1999. Later a political series was expanded with following directories " Who Governs Moscow", "Who Governs Saint Petersburg", "Parties & Organizations in Russia ", special appendices on President Elections of 1996, 2000 and 2004. After 1998 crisis company's priorities were redirected to real sector, and manufacture has been transferred to Russia. The company started a new series of industrial directories. The first book to be released in the series was "Communication & Information in Russia"; "Transport & Logistic in Russia", "Fuel & Energy in Russia", "Mining & Metals in Russia", "TV, Radio & Media" (this edition is traditionally awarded to TEFI winners ) have appeared later. "Fuel & Energy in Russia" was thrice awarded with PEGAZ as the best publication on problems of fuel and power complex. This year the whole industrial series has become PEGAZ winner for the fourth time. New directories: "Forest & Paper in Russia", "Food Industry in Russia", "Machinery & Equipment in Russia", "Finance & Investments in Russia" were released in 2002-2003. "Utilities in Russia" and the new regional project "State & Business" of seven federal districts of Russia starts from Privoljskiy and Northwest Federal Districts have replenished the series. All books are regularly republished. The publishing plan-2006 can be found here. The detailed history of directories in dates can be found here. The series contains 25 editions - 12 political and 13 industrial directories. Total number of books released by the company is 54. Compact-Disks At the instance of subscribers in 2005 Maximov Publications began to release directories on compact disks, dedicated to separate economy segments. The first CD “Pipeline Transportation in Russia” had been released in December 2005. In 2006 the editorial board of Maximov Publications released the second edition of this compact-disk, and also is planning to prepare compact-disks for all 7 federal districts and electronic branch directories: “Nature Resources Management”, “Departmental and Corporate Informational Systems and Communications Networks”, “Departmental and Corporate Finances”.   Calendars It's already 4 years since the company launched the unique information products in an original format: directories-calendars. The first calendar "State & Business of Russia in Birthdays" was created as corporate gift to the company but it soon become clear that the project is to become an independent demanded edition. New calendars of birthdays "Communication & Information", "Food Industry" and "Fuel & Energy" was later released. In the end of 2006 new calendars "Russia 2007. Finance & Investments in birthdays" and "Russia 2007.Transport & Logistics in birthdays" will be released. Each page of the calendars contains photos of most known politicians or businessman on their birth date, their surnames and names. Calendars actually presents the ratings of the leading Russian companies. This perspective project will capture all directories of a series. The DM "Maximov Publications" not only release printed directories and calendars. Most perspective project of the company - Direct Mail services. Company's extensive databases allow to create necessary samples on different criteria. The company also offers "help designer" when on "LEGO" principle individual, customized informational products is created.