Max Taves

Max Taves serves as the Deputy Opinion Editor at The Mercury News since April 2025. Prior to this role, Taves was the Senior Vice President at Venture PR, where oversight included thought leadership for venture capital firms and startups across North America and Western Europe. Taves also contributed as a sometime-columnist for various prominent publications like the Sacramento Bee and Miami Herald, focusing on data-driven op-eds regarding global affairs. As the Founding Principal of Synthesis Media LLC, Taves specialized in corporate communication for C-suite executives. Experience also includes roles at Jennifer Jones & Partners, the National Association for Business Economics, CNET, and The Wall Street Journal, with a strong background in journalism covering business, economics, technology, and political issues. Taves holds a Master's degree in Politics from Columbia University and a Bachelor's degree in International Economics/Political Economics from Georgetown University.