Maxim Ponomarev is the co-founder of Mads and Friends. He graduated from the Faculty of Psychology at Moscow University for the Humanities and has been working in advertising since 2004. During his career he has worked at McCann Erickson and BBDO.

He has worked with clients from different categories and levels: Gillette, Megafon, Martini, Google, Post Bank, Cian, Hayat Kimya, Airwick, Yota, Adrenaline Rush, Epica and others.

Maxim has given lectures and workshops at Red Apple, Effie Awards, ADC Russia, Design.View, ADC Latvia, Wargaming, RBC Conference, PORA, YouTube Conference, Shum Festival, Zavod Conference, Creative Weekends in Gorky Park, ITMO, Stieglitz Academy, Design Workshop, Russian Creative Week and other events.

His work has been recognized at Cannes Lions, Golden Hammer, Idea ,White Square, Cristal Festival, AdBlack Sea, Eurobest, ADCE, Epica, Golden Drum, PIAF, Red Apple, ADCR and Effie Russia.